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Ex-Minister Sylva’s Aides, Domestic Workers Remain in Detention — Spokesman

ByTitilope Adako

PublishedNovember 30, 2025

Julius Bokoru, Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to former Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, has raised concerns over the continued detention of four of Sylva’s aides and domestic workers.

In a statement on Sunday titled “Detention of Sylva’s aides: a call for reason, humanity, and due process,” Bokoru said the first arrested aide, Paganengigha Anagha, is still in custody.

The others include Musa Mohammed, Sylva’s driver; Police Officer Ayuba Reuben; and Friday Lusa Paul, an escort driver.

The arrests followed a raid on Sylva’s Abuja residence months ago by operatives believed to be from military intelligence.

Families of those detained have reportedly been left anxious over their fate.

Earlier in November, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Sylva wanted over an alleged $14.8 million fraud, even as he was recently linked to a rumoured aborted military coup.

Bokoru criticised the EFCC for declaring his principal wanted without officially inviting him first. Sylva has since written to the EFCC requesting a mutually agreed date to honour its summons.

Bokoru insisted that Sylva has never shunned lawful summons and debunked claims that he jumped bail, explaining that he was on a routine medical check-up in the United Kingdom.

Bokoru expressed concern over the conditions of those arrested, saying, “Yet the most distressing element of this saga is not the swirl of speculation, but the quiet suffering of innocent men caught in the crossfire. These individuals—fathers, husbands, ordinary Nigerians—have been held on grounds that appear unclear at best, and entirely vague to their traumatised families.”

He questioned why the aides remain in custody despite clear communication between Sylva and the EFCC, “This persists even after Chief Sylva wrote to the EFCC, reaffirming his readiness to appear before the Commission on a mutually convenient date, subject only to his ongoing treatment for a life-threatening medical condition.

“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. One would have expected such clarity to steady national discourse. Instead, events escalated further, culminating in public statements from the EFCC that appeared inconsistent with earlier engagements.”

Bokoru lamented the siege on Sylva’s Maitama home, adding that it has traumatised children and other household members.

He insisted that President Bola Tinubu is not behind Sylva’s ordeal, attributing the situation to “selfish individuals with political ambitions.”

He praised Sylva’s contributions to the petroleum sector and the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, saying, “These events carry a heavy toll on individuals, families, and democratic values that demand fairness, transparency, and proportionality. They also risk overshadowing the legacy of a patriot who, against daunting odds, championed the Petroleum Industry Bill until it became the Petroleum Industry Act we rely upon today.

“As Governor, he ventured into the creeks to midwife the Presidential Amnesty Programme, a decisive intervention that restored peace and secured vital national revenues. Such a figure cannot be reduced to a pawn in local political rivalries, nor targeted by those who see the coming electoral season as an opportunity to diminish him.”

Bokoru appealed to security agencies to release the detained aides and lift the 24-hour siege around Sylva’s children, urging all parties to respect due process.

“Chief Sylva has already written to the EFCC, pledging to appear before the Commission on a medically feasible date agreed upon by both parties. The many supporters of Chief Sylva, a significant bloc within the APC in Bayelsa and beyond, remain steadfast in their faith in President Tinubu’s leadership. They hope that this long night of anxiety will soon give way to a calmer, brighter morning.”

Titilope Adako

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.