Timipre Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa State and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under the administration of late Muhammadu Buhari, has been thrown into mourning following the death of his elder brother, Chief Johnbull Anagha Sylva.
The sad development was made public by his aide, Julius Bokoru, in a Facebook statement on Wednesday, May 6.
According to the post, the deceased passed away the same day, with a three-day Duwei Wari (Canopy Standing) scheduled to begin in his honour at 3pm.
Part of the statement read:
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Chief Johnbull Anagha Sylva, immediate elder brother to His Excellency, Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva.”
See the post below:
Allegations trail former governor
The development comes amid allegations that Sylva was involved in funding a failed coup attempt in 2025 against Bola Tinubu.
Reports claimed he transferred ₦1 billion in multiple instalments into accounts linked to a Bureau De Change operator.
However, Sylva has denied any involvement in the alleged plot. Despite this, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared him wanted and reportedly raided his residence in Abuja.
The former minister, who is currently outside the country, has yet to return but has maintained his innocence.
Through his aide, he described the allegations as false and politically motivated, insisting he would defend himself against the claims.
