On May 8 2013, the former governor was arrested at his Abuja home by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after an Abuja high court granted the agency permission to paste the six-count money laundering charges at the front gate of his residence. According to the prosecution, Governor Sylva was involved in a N19.2bn corruption scam between October 2009 and February 2012 as governor of Bayelsa State.
Today, however, Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed ruled that the charge which was preferred against the erstwhile governor by the EFCC constituted an abuse of court process. Governor Sylva was in the charge, alleged to have used three separate companies to siphoned the sum from the Bayelsa state treasury.
Earlier this month, the director of public prosecution, Mr M S Diri had withdrawn another six-court charge against Governor Sylva, wherein he was accused of involvement in the illegal diversion of N6.5bn from the coffers of Bayelsa State. Following the withdrawal of the case and the striking out of the latest one, Governor Sylva is now clear of all charges.
A close associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Sylva was the chairman of the presidential transition committee. Having been cleared of all charges, he will now be eligible for a senior appointment in the new government.
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