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Timi Frank drags Sylva to Court, seeks order for police to probe former Petroleum Minister over identity theft
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has filed a criminal complaints case against the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, at the Chief Magistrate Court Abuja.
In the suit filed by his Counsel, Edward Omaga Esq. of Graylaw Practice LP chambers, Frank urged the Chief Magistrate of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to cause a direct criminal complaint to be issued against Sylva over alleged inconsistencies in his name and doubts over his participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, averred that based on documents before him, the actual identity of the former minister seems to be in doubt.
The suit reads in part: “Over the years, the complainant (Frank) has also shown his resolve in fighting and exposing corruption in public places and holding public officers accountable to their oath of office.
“The defendant (Sylva) on his part once served as the Executive Governor of Bayelsa state between 2008 till 2012 and recently resigned his position as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources sometime around 30th March 2023.
“Facts and documents available to the complainant reveal that the actual identity of the aforesaid defendant is in serious doubt.
“Recently, the complainant while undertaking a private investigation visited the United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania where Chief Timipre Sylva instituted a libel case against one Jackson Ude.
“In the course of hearing, Chief Timipre Sylva signed a verification of interrogatories answers dated April l, 2022 and attached various documents in proof of his identity.
“The said academic documents include a First School Leaving Certificate with No. 092915 dated 1st July, 1976 issued to Anagha Timipere who finished from Ajeromi Central School, Araromi-Apapa, Lagos State.
“Also, the defendant claims to hold a West African Examination Council (WAEC) General Certificate of Education with certificate No. PO851528 and Candidate No. 21735215 dated December 1981 issued to Marlin Anagha Timipre…
“The complainant equally discovered that the erstwhile Minister of State for Petroleum Resources parades a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with Second Class (Upper Division) from University of Port Harcourt dated 19th August, 1986 issued to Anagha Timipre Marlin.
“The defendant equally holds a Doctorate in International Relations (Honoris Causa) from UBIS University in Geneva, Switzerland, dated 22nd September, 2011 and issued to Chief Timipre Sylva.
“The certificates mentioned above have visible anomalies and do not depict the true identity of Chief Timipre Sylva. It is confusing as to who Chief Timipre Sylva is.
“There is no evidence anywhere showing that Chief Timipre Sylva ever changed his name from Anagha Timipre Marlin to Timipre Sylva in 1986 after he purportedly graduated from University of Port Harcourt.
“Investigation by the complainant further reveals that there is also no record that the defendant has National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge or Exemption Certificate, as the case may be, either in the name of Anagha Timipre Marlin or Timipre Sylva.
“Records abound in public domain that Chief Timipre Sylva intentionally presented the aforementioned inconsistent, conflicting or forged academic documents before the Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Screening Committee in 2007 as well as the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives in 2019 under oath for purposes of screening into the positions of Governor of Bayelsa State and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
“In a bid to escape the long arms of the law, Chief Timipre Sylva concocted a Deed Poll and Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette dated 11th and 12th May, 2022 to cover up his alleged offences.
“In the documents…Sylva attempted, albeit belatedly to make the general public believe that the manifestly conflicting names: Anagha Timipere, Marlin Anagha Timipre, Anagha Timipre Marlin and Chief Timipre Sylva appearing on the academic certificates he has been parading for decades all belongs to him.
“The complainant believes that the said Deed Poll and Official Gazette are nothing but mere pieces of paper…procured by Sylva to mislead people and wriggle himself out of being investigated, prosecuted and jailed for the alleged offence.
“The Complainant is worried like every other reasonable Nigerian as to why the defendant waited till May 2022 before procuring the Deed Poll and Official Gazette…
“That the complainant is crying for justice in this matter and only an intervention by the Court can answer the cry.
“That it will be in the best interest of Justice to bring the defendant to answer to the complaint.
“Based on the foregoing, the complainant humbly prays the Honourable Court to direct the Nigeria Police Force to carry out investigation of the alleged offences concerning the defendant.
“Whereof the action of the defendant constitutes the offence of forgery contrary to Section 366 of the Penal Code.”
Kogi State Police Command has called for cancellation of rally organized by the Constituents of the Central Senatorial District to host Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a statement sent to CAPITAL POST in Lokoja on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, said it became operative for the scheduled to be put off, citing security threats.
The statement said: “Following the intelligence report on security threats in Kogi State and the subsequent ban on all forms of Rally and procession by the Kogi State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Police Command has called on the organisers of planned rally at Okene to cancel such event in the interest of the peace in Kogi State.
“The call for cancellation becomes necessary, noting that intelligence reveals that some hoodlums plan to hijack the process and cause disturbance of peace in the State. The Command cannot afford to jeopardize the existing peace the State is currently enjoying.
“In view of the security threat received on the planned rally, the Kogi State Police Command is therefore advising the organisers to cancel the event so as to avoid any breakdown of law and order in the State. As the Command will not hesitate to apply the full wrath of law on any one who causes disturbance of peace and order in the State.”
Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Isah Jibrin (Echocho), has condoled families who lost their loved ones in the windstorm that rocked Itobe and other communities in Ofu Local Government Council.
Saddened by the devastation of the rainstorm that led to death of two persons and destruction of properties worth millions of naira, the lawmaker said, the victims wouldn’t be left alone at this trying period, stating that everything possible would be done to mitigate their pains.
In a statement issued by the Media and Communications office of the lawmaker on Monday said, his attention has been drawn to the incident even as he is out of the country, but will offer his personal contributions in cash and in kind towards alleviating the suffering of the victims during his visit to the affected communities upon his arrival.
He stated that attention of relevant government agencies will be drawn through a motion which he will sponsor when the Senate reconvenes from Sallah and Easter break to the natural disaster with a view to quickly provide succour for the victims and resettlement of displaced households.
The lawmaker said, he was aware that over 500 residents in communities of Itobe, Adumu, Itagidi, Oladebu, Ajegwu, Ofoke and others in Ofu Local Government Council were left homeless in the first rain disaster, adding that the disaster wasn’t their making.
“I shall offer my personal palliative for immediate succour to the victims as soon as I am back in the country.
“Also, I assure the victims that I will sponsor a motion that will draw attention of relevant government agencies to mobilise materials and resources to mitigate their pains, especially those rendered homeless as a result of the disaster.
Senator Isah Jibrin, further called on the National Metereological Agency to do a wider publicity on the signals and looming dangers of windstorm for citizens to be properly informed and to take caution.
Kogi State government has banned rallies and crowd related reception in the State, citing security challenges.
This was even as the suspended female Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was billed for homecoming on Tuesday 1st April, 2025 which a grand reception was reportedly planned by her constituents.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Commisioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo and obtained by CAPITAL POST on Monday in Lokoja, it cited security concerns and stressed that the State Government was committed to safety of lives and properties.
The statement said, the ban on convoys entering the State and any form of public gatherings was a proactive step to nip in the bud, breach of security as intelligence reports available to the State Government was indicative of looming crisis.
It said, the State government has just quelled crisis in parts of Kogi Local Government Council in the Western Senatorial, saying that government was committed to ensuring peace across the entire State.
Part of the statement said: “In light of credible intelligence reports, the government has deemed it necessary to take proactive measures to prevent any form of security breach that could destabilize the state.
“It is heartwarming to note that the State witnessed a peaceful Sallah, however some security threats are threatening the peace of the State. In Kasemiya, Katubo and Umozu Ette all in Kogi Local Government Area in Kogi West, fishing activities have resulted in serious crisis, leading to the loss of two lives.
“All fishing activities in Kogi Local Government Area is hereby suspended until peace is completely restored. Security operatives have been deployed to the affected areas to restore peace and implement our directive.
“Also, in Ankpa Local Government Area, specifically in Enjema District, a communal clash between Ika-Odele and Ika Ochala is threatening the peace of Kogi East.
“The State Government has deployed security to also calm the situation to avert further loss of lives and property.
“The ongoing peace meeting between the two communities as facilitated by the State Government must be sustained.
“In Kogi Central, intelligence at our disposal point to the fact that some elements are planning to stage some violent rallies in the guise of political and religious agitations. This is to create a platform for wanton destruction and breakdown of law and order.”
Meanwhile, Natasha’s homecoming invitation which has already gone wide showed that the reception was to be held in her honour on Tuesday.
CAPITAL POST recalled that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months by the 10th Senate for allegedly breaching Senat3mStandinb Rules.
She also accused the Senate President,Godswill Obot Akpabio of sexual harassment and while she had attended the Interparliamentary Union, IPU in Geneva to speak on her harrowing experiences in the Senate.
At the time of filing this report, no statement has emanated Natasha’s media minders in response to the ban issued by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo government.
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