EFCC investigates Kyari, others over $2.8b spent on refinery rehabilitation, illegal payments

Former executives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), have been accused of abused of office and misappropriation of funds.
To this the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into the tenure of chief executives, Mele Kyari and Abubakar Yar’Adua.
The main thrust of the investigation according to reliable sources is the controversial $2.896 billion spent on refinery rehabilitation projects under their watch.
In a letter dated April 28, 2025, with reference number CR:3000/EFCC/ABJ/HQ/SDC.2/NNPC/VOL.1/698, and addressed to the NNPC Managing Director, the EFCC requested certified records of salaries and allowances paid to 14 officials, some of whom are retired.
Titled, “Investigation Activities Request for Information,” the letter stated that the EFCC is probing allegations of financial misconduct and abuse of office and asked the company to submit certified true copies of relevant documents concerning both current and former staff.
Among those named are former Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari; former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC), Ibrahim Onoja; and former Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), Mustafa Sugungun.
All three were removed in the recent shake-up at the oil company.
Others on the list include: a former Group Managing Director of NNPC, Abubakar Yar’Adua; a former NNPC group executive director, finance & services; Isiaka Abdulrazak; a former Chief Financial Officer NNPC Limited, Umar Ajiya; the former Managing Director of the PHRC, Dikko Ahmed; a power plant engineer at PHRC, Ademoye Jelili; Manager Production at NNPC/KRPC, Efiok Akpan; Kayode Adetokunbo, Babatunde Bakare, Jimoh Olasunkanmi, Bello Kankaya and Desmond Inyama.
“In view of the above, you are kindly requested to furnish certified true copies of their emoluments and allowances, including that of those who have retired and no longer work with your organisation,” the letter read.