NNPCL $2.9billion heist: I’m walking free, says Kyari, Nigerians call for thorough investigations

4/5/2025
Concerned Nigerians have called for thorough investigations into the allegedly squandering of $2.9billion meant for the rehabilitation of three Nigerian refineries the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL.
Some top managers of the corporation have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission they include Ibrahim Onoja, former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, and Efifia Chu, the ex-Managing Director of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company. N80billion has been traced to one of arrested officials’ bank account.
The anti-corruption agency is trying to unravel how $1.56 billion allocated to Port Harcourt refinery, $740 million to Kaduna, and $656 million to Warri was spent.
“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,” said a top official of the EFCC on Saturday.
“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?”
Meanwhile former group CEO of the NNPCL Mele Kyari said he has not been picked up by the EFCC and was walking free enjoying his holiday.
“At present, I am taking a well-deserved rest after the dissolution of the management and board of the NNPCL, of which I was the Group Chief Executive.
“It should be stated that having served the NNPC and the NNPCL for 34 years, and 17 of those in management roles and especially the last 5 years and 9 months, I had little time for leave of even two weeks.
“So, I am thankful for the opportunity to serve under their Excellencies Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I must emphasise that I served with the fear of God knowing fully well as a Muslim that if I do not account before man, I will account before Allah, and that I am better off accounting to the institutions of man. Therefore, having served in public capacity, I am willing and happy to account for my stewardship in this world,” Kyari wrote on his X social media account.