NNPCL: EFCC investigates Mele Kyari, 13 other senior executives …N80bn found in sacked MD account
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a full scale investigation into activities of some of the recently sacked top staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
Among those the EFCC is investigating include the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari.
It was learnt that the anti-graft agency is also investigating 13 other former senior executives of the national oil firm over alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of funds.
There are indications that the commission has arrested the recently sacked managing directors and some top officials of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.
The officials were arrested over alleged mismanagement of funds earmarked for the rehabilitation of the facilities. The total amount under investigation is $2,956,872,622.36.
Findings by Saturday PUNCH showed that the EFCC is probing the sum of $1,559,239,084.36 allocated to the Port Harcourt refinery, $740,669,600 released for the Kaduna refinery, and $656,963,938 approved for the Warri refinery.
The ex-Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd is Mr Ibrahim Onoja, while Efifia Chu served as the ex-Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd.
This came as impeccable top management sources at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited revealed that N80bn was found in the account of one of the sacked MDs.
Meanwhile, the EFCC has demanded corporation from the current Group Managing Director of NNPCL in its investigation into the activities of the top officials.
In a document titled ‘Investigation Activities: Request for Information’, dated April 28, 2025, and addressed to the current Group Managing Director of NNPCL, the anti graft agency requested for full corporation.
The document outlined the officials investigated to include Abubakar Yar’Adua, Mele Kyari, Isiaka Abdulrazak, Umar Ajiya, Dikko Ahmed, Ibrahim Onoja, Ademoye Jelili, and Mustapha Sugungun.
Others are Kayode Adetokunbo, Efiok Akpan, Babatunde Bakare, Jimoh Olasunkanmi, Bello Kankaya and Desmond Inyama.
The document stated, “The commission is investigating a case of abuse of office and misappropriation of funds in which the underlisted officials of your organisation featured.”
In its request, the EFCC has asked the NNPCL to provide certified true copies of the emoluments and allowances of the listed officials, including those who have retired.
Despite the gravity of the investigation, the spokesperson for NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, has refused to comment on the allegations surrounding the top officials. He has ignored multiple inquiries from Punch regarding the matter, raising concerns about the corporation’s transparency.
This lack of response has fueled public suspicion, deepening distrust in the operations of NNPCL, which many believe is hiding the true state of Nigeria’s oil infrastructure.
This development comes on the heels of mounting criticism of NNPCL’s handling of the refineries under its management.
It was reported that the $897 million revamp of the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) had failed to deliver results, with the refinery still unable to produce Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
It also highlighted that the newly repaired $1.5 billion Port Harcourt refinery struggled to operate at under 37.87% of its production capacity, further casting doubt on NNPCL’s claims of revitalising the nation’s refineries.
The WRPC, which was brought back to life by NNPCL in December 2024, faced further setbacks when it was shut down due to safety concerns in its Crude Distillation Unit Main Heater.
Despite consuming $897.6 million in maintenance costs, the refinery failed to produce petrol and was shut down barely a month after Kyari declared it operational.
An investigation in January 2025 revealed that while NNPCL had claimed that production was ongoing at WRPC, activities were only skeletal compared to when the refinery was running at full capacity. The NNPCL, however, denied these claims, asserting that production was indeed taking place.
