Former executives from Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries detained over alleged mismanagement of rehabilitation funds; Kyari, 13 senior ex-NNPCL officials also facing probe
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the recently dismissed managing directors and several senior officials from Nigeria’s three state-owned refineries over alleged misappropriation of nearly $3 billion in rehabilitation funds.
The anti-graft agency is investigating $1.56 billion allocated to Port Harcourt Refining Company, $740.7 million for Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, and $657 million approved for Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company.
Sources within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited revealed that approximately N80 billion ($53 million) was discovered in the account of one of the sacked managing directors.
“Large amounts have been discovered in his accounts. About N80bn has so far been discovered in his various accounts. The way things are going, it may be bigger than Emefielegate,” an official stated, speaking confidentially due to the ongoing investigation.
The arrests follow Tuesday’s dismissal of Ibrahim Onoja, former Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company, and Efifia Chu, who led the Warri facility, along with other senior executives.
A senior EFCC source confirmed: “We are investigating the money that was released for the rehabilitation of all three refineries—money disbursed in recent times. All the principal officers within that time frame are being invited.”
“Some have been arrested already, and we are still on the lookout for others. Nigerians are interested in seeing our refineries work. We are asking: where is the money, and what has happened to the refineries?”
The probe comes amid growing public frustration over the refineries’ performance. Despite NNPCL’s highly publicized announcements that both Port Harcourt and Warri facilities had resumed operations in late 2024, investigations revealed the Warri refinery was shut down in January 2025 due to safety concerns, just weeks after its recommissioning.
The Port Harcourt refinery, which consumed $1.5 billion in rehabilitation costs, has reportedly operated below 40 percent capacity since resuming operations.
Energy expert Kelvin Emmanuel described the televised commissioning ceremonies as “charades,” stating: “For months, I had said that Warri, Port-Harcourt, and Kaduna were never going to come back into operation and that what Nigerians saw on television as the commissioning was just a charade.”
The NNPCL spokesperson has not responded to inquiries regarding the allegations.
Kyari under probe
A document obtained by a Punch correspondent on Friday from NNPCL, dated April 28, 2025, and titled, ‘Investigation Activities: Request for Information’, indicated that the probe by EFCC included the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the national oil firm, Mele Kyari.
The EFCC document was addressed to the Group Managing Director (Group Chief Executive Officer) of the national oil company and contained the names of 13 other former senior executives of the NNPCL.
“The commission is investigating a case of abuse of office and misappropriation of funds in which the underlisted officials of your organisation featured,” the document stated.
It outlined the officials 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.