The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the recently sacked managing directors and several top officials of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries over an alleged mismanagement of funds earmarked for the rehabilitation of the facilities.
The anti-graft agency confirmed it is probing the disbursement and utilization of a staggering $2.9 billion allocated for the refineries’ revamp. Findings revealed that $1.5 billion was approved for the Port Harcourt refinery, $740 million for Kaduna, and $656 million for the Warri refinery.
Among those arrested are Mr. Ibrahim Onoja, the former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd., and Mr. Efifia Chu, the ex-MD of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd. Others whose identities are yet to be disclosed are also reportedly in custody or under EFCC watch.
An impeccable source within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) told Nig24News that a shocking N80 billion was traced to the personal account of one of the sacked managing directors.
A senior EFCC official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the arrests are part of a broad investigation into the misuse of funds meant for the quick-fix turnaround of the three state-owned refineries.
“We are investigating all the principal officers connected to the disbursement and execution of the rehabilitation contracts. Some have already been arrested, and others are under surveillance,” the EFCC official disclosed.
“Nigerians want answers. These refineries were supposed to be functioning by now, but instead, we are tracking missing funds. The question remains: where is the money, and what happened to the refineries?” he added.
Further documents obtained by Nig24News, dated April 28, 2025, and marked ‘Investigation Activities: Request for Information,’ indicate that the EFCC probe extends to the former Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, alongside 13 other senior executives.
