A confidential document obtained by The Punch on Friday from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a probe into alleged financial misconduct involving the corporation’s former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, along with 13 other high-ranking past executives.
The investigation centers on accusations of abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds within the national oil firm. According to the EFCC document titled “Investigation Activities: Request for Information”, dated April 28, 2025, the anti-corruption agency has formally requested NNPCL to provide certified records detailing the salaries, benefits, and allowances of the implicated individuals, including those who are now retired.
The correspondence, addressed to the current Group Managing Director of NNPCL, specifically named Mele Kyari and several other top officials: Abubakar Yar’Adua, Isiaka Abdulrazak, Umar Ajiya, Dikko Ahmed, Ibrahim Onoja, Ademoye Jelili, Mustapha Sugungun, Kayode Adetokunbo, Efiok Akpan, Babatunde Bakare, Jimoh Olasunkanmi, Bello Kankaya, and Desmond Inyama.
The EFCC stated, “The commission is investigating a case of abuse of office and misappropriation of funds in which the underlisted officials of your organisation featured.”
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the NNPCL has maintained silence. Multiple attempts by The Punch to obtain a response from NNPCL’s spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, were unsuccessful. His refusal to comment has raised public concerns about the corporation’s commitment to accountability and transparency.
This controversy comes amid growing criticism of the NNPCL’s performance, particularly in its management of the country’s ailing refineries. On Tuesday, The Punch reported that the $897 million rehabilitation of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) failed to restore effective operations, as the facility still could not produce Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Further scrutiny was directed at the recently refurbished $1.5 billion Port Harcourt Refinery. Despite the massive investment, the refinery was operating at less than 38% of its intended capacity, raising questions about the effectiveness of NNPCL’s refinery revitalization strategy.
The Warri Refinery, which was relaunched by NNPCL in December 2024, suffered a significant setback when it was shut down due to a technical fault in its Crude Distillation Unit’s main heater. Despite the substantial expenditure of nearly $900 million on its rehabilitation, the plant failed to produce petrol and ceased operations less than a month after Kyari announced its revival.
A separate investigation by Saturday Punch in January 2025 exposed that activity within the refinery was minimal, contradicting NNPCL’s official claims of ongoing production. While NNPCL insisted that operations were proceeding, on-ground findings suggested otherwise, with only skeletal activity observed.
The ongoing EFCC investigation, coupled with operational failures in the petroleum sector, has further eroded public trust in the NNPCL and intensified calls for deeper reforms within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
