The allegations in question stem from a petition that prompted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to declare Sylva wanted on November 10, 2025. The anti-graft agency accused the former minister of diverting a staggering $14.8 million belonging to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), an agency established to promote indigenous participation in the oil and gas sector and oversee the utilization of the Nigerian Content Development Fund.
Senator Dickson, a former two-term governor of Bayelsa State (2012–2020) who succeeded Sylva in that office, revealed his decision to recuse himself in a detailed statement posted on his verified Facebook page shortly after the incident. According to the senator, he had arrived at the committee hearing with the understanding that it would be a routine interactive session with the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Ogbe, aimed at general oversight matters concerning the board’s operations. However, upon realizing that the entire agenda revolved around the petition alleging Sylva’s involvement in the purported diversion of funds, Dickson immediately opted to excuse himself from the proceedings.
In his words, “I innocently attended the Senate Committee on Local Content interactive session thinking it was the usual general engagement with the Executive Secretary of NCDMB. But on getting there, I realised it was a petition-centred hearing targeted at one individual and one transaction. I immediately recused myself.”
The senator argued that any legitimate investigation into the NCDMB’s funds should be comprehensive rather than selective. He insisted that a proper probe must examine “the management and utilisation of the Nigerian Content Development Fund from inception till date,” rather than zeroing in on a single transaction involving one personality. Dickson described the narrow focus as “appearing too selective and targeted,” especially given that the EFCC, the constitutionally mandated agency for investigating financial crimes, was already actively handling the case.
Beyond procedural concerns, Dickson’s withdrawal carried a deeply personal and political dimension. He openly acknowledged his long-standing political rivalry with Sylva, dating back to 2011 when the two men first crossed swords in Bayelsa’s turbulent political arena. Despite their bitter history — which has seen them belong to opposing political camps for over a decade — Dickson emphasised his principled stance against what he termed “post-election destructive politics.”
“I recused myself principally because the person affected is a former governor of my state, my predecessor in office, and I have a personal policy of not joining issues to fight or pull down anyone, particularly someone who has occupied the same office I once occupied,” he wrote.
He went further to distance himself from politicians who derive satisfaction from the misfortunes of their opponents: “Even though we have been on opposite sides politically since 2011, I do not believe in politics of destruction after elections. I outplan, out-campaign, and defeat people fairly during elections, not by contributing to their problems afterwards. I am not like some politicians who celebrate the downfall of those they disagree with.”
Dickson’s statement has since sparked widespread discussion across Nigeria’s political circles, with many praising his display of maturity and statesmanship, while others view it as a calculated move to shield a fellow son of Bayelsa from what they perceive as politically motivated persecution.
Responding to the development, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (Delta South), confirmed that Dickson’s recusal had been respectfully accepted without objection. Speaking to journalists after the session, Thomas maintained that the committee was merely discharging its constitutional oversight responsibilities and had every right to demand explanations on issues arising within agencies under its purview.
According to him, “The committee is only carrying out its oversight function. Issues bordering on the NCDMB cannot be ignored. It is not out of place for the committee to request information and clarification on matters happening within a board we oversee. Senator Dickson recused himself and we accepted it in good faith.”
The NCDMB, established under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010, manages a fund derived from one percent of contracts awarded in the upstream sector. The agency has been pivotal in driving local content initiatives, but it has not been immune to controversies over the years, with past leaderships also facing scrutiny over fund management.
As at the time of this report, Chief Timipre Sylva, who served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources from 2019 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has not issued any public response to the EFCC declaration or the Senate committee’s actions. Sources close to the former minister insist that the allegations are politically orchestrated to settle old scores, particularly in light of his active role in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his previous governorship ambitions in Bayelsa State.
The development has once again brought to the fore the intricate interplay between politics, institutional oversight, and anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria. While Senator Dickson’s decision to step aside has been lauded by many as an exemplary act of political decency in a country where bitter rivalries often extend far beyond the ballot box, it has equally raised questions about the fine line between legitimate legislative oversight and perceived witch-hunting.
For now, the Senate Committee on Local Content has indicated that it will continue its inquiry, with or without Senator Dickson’s participation, as it seeks to get to the bottom of how billions of naira meant for developing Nigerian content in the oil and gas sector have been managed over the years. Whether the probe will expand to cover the fund’s administration “from inception,” as Dickson advocated, or remain focused on the specific $14.8 million transaction linked to his predecessor, remains to be seen.
What is certain, however, is that this episode has added another layer of intrigue to the already complex political relationship between two of Bayelsa State’s most prominent figures, while underscoring the perennial challenges of accountability and fairness in Nigeria’s governance landscape.
