The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is interrogating the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over alleged financial misconduct linked to a $7.2 billion refinery turnaround maintenance project. The EFCC investigation of Mele Kyari has raised fresh concerns about Nigeria’s troubled oil sector.
Sources confirmed that Kyari is currently at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, where investigators are questioning him. One source said, “He is here with our investigators at the moment. This is all I can disclose for now.”
The interrogation comes as investigations intensify into alleged irregularities in the use of funds allocated to Nigeria’s refineries. Despite multiple turnaround maintenance projects, the refineries remain inactive, fuelling public outrage. Kyari had earlier 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 boss. The action is part of ongoing efforts to trace alleged fraud involving the multi-billion-dollar project.
Mele Kyari served as GMD of the NNPCL from 2019 until his replacement in July 2024. During his tenure, he oversaw the transformation of the NNPC into a limited liability company. However, critics argue that the refinery programme under his leadership failed to deliver expected results, leaving Nigeria dependent on fuel imports.
The refinery turnaround maintenance scandal continues to place Kyari at the centre of Nigeria’s oil sector accountability debate.
