Security operatives have reportedly surrounded the Maitama residence of Chief Timipre Sylva, the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, raising concerns over the treatment of his family and aides.
Sylva, a former Governor of Bayelsa State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was previously accused of financing a purported coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Days after the allegations surfaced, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Sylva wanted over alleged diversion of funds intended for Brass Petrochemical, claims the former minister has denied.
In a statement titled, “Detention of Sylva’s aides: a call for reason, humanity and due process,” Chief Julius Bokoru, Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to Sylva, lamented that four aides and domestic staff arrested in October remain in detention.
He identified the detainees as Mr. Paganengigha Anagha, Musa Mohammed, Sylva’s driver, Police Officer Ayuba Reuben, and Friday Lusa Paul, an escort driver. Bokoru described them as “innocent men caught in the crossfire,” highlighting the suffering of their families.
He noted that despite formal communication between Sylva and the EFCC, including his readiness to appear before the Commission while receiving treatment for a life-threatening medical condition, the aides continue to be held.
“Before these developments, the public was unsettled by unfounded attempts to link him to a purported coup plot, allegations the Federal Government and the military have since dismissed in absolute terms,” Bokoru said.
He stressed that Sylva, renowned for his legacy in the petroleum sector and contributions to the Amnesty Programme that restored peace in the Niger Delta, deserves respect rather than humiliation.
“These events carry a heavy toll on individuals, families, and democratic values that demand fairness, transparency and proportionality. They risk overshadowing the legacy of a patriot who championed the Petroleum Industry Bill until it became the Petroleum Industry Act,” Bokoru said.
He further emphasized that Sylva’s support for President Tinubu’s second-term ambition has been clear and that the ongoing siege should not be mistaken as federal directive but rather a local political dispute.
Bokoru appealed to security agencies to release the detained aides, lift the 24-hour siege around Sylva’s family, and uphold due process, which he described as the foundation of any civilized society.
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