The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently questioning Mele Kyari, the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), over alleged financial misconduct linked to a $7.2 billion refinery turnaround maintenance project. Sources within the anti‑graft agency say Kyari is being interviewed by investigators at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja and has been invited to explain billions of dollars in financial transactions that occurred during his tenure as head of the state‑owned oil company.
Kyari’s interview forms part of ongoing investigations into alleged irregularities in the use of funds allocated to Nigeria’s refineries, which remain largely inactive despite repeated turnaround maintenance projects. He had previously been placed on the EFCC’s watch list in connection with the controversial refinery programme. Recently, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the temporary freezing of four bank accounts linked to the former NNPCL chief, pending further investigation into the alleged fraud.
Kyari served as GMD of the NNPCL from 2019 until his replacement in July 2024, a period during which he oversaw reforms that transformed the NNPC into a limited‑liability company. The EFCC’s probe into his alleged misconduct is part of a broader inquiry into the management of Nigeria’s oil refineries, which have been plagued by inefficiency and corruption, resulting in significant financial losses.
EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale could not be reached for comment at the time of reporting. The development underscores ongoing efforts to combat corruption and financial mismanagement in Nigeria’s oil sector. The investigation into Kyari’s alleged misconduct represents a significant step toward greater transparency and accountability in the management of the country’s oil resources, and further details are expected to emerge as the probe continues.
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