ABUJA, The anti-graft net is tightening around Nigeria’s oil sector as former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, faced hours of interrogation on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.
Reliable EFCC sources also confirmed, as reported by Daily Trust, that Kyari, who was previously placed on a watchlist, arrived at the commission’s office at about 2:30 p.m. for questioning. Efforts to obtain official comment from EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale were unsuccessful as of press time.
Though investigators have kept details of the interrogation under wraps, VOS TV learned that Kyari’s case is tied to the controversial management of billions of naira released for the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s moribund refineries. Multiple current and former NNPCL officials are also reportedly under EFCC scrutiny in what is fast becoming one of the biggest anti-corruption investigations in the nation’s oil sector in years.
₦661 Million in Suspicious Flows
Wednesday’s development comes barely four weeks after a Federal High Court in Abuja froze four Jaiz Bank accounts linked to Kyari.
According to court filings (FHC/ABJ/CS/1641/2025), investigators traced ₦661.4 million — suspected proceeds of unlawful activity to the accounts. The funds allegedly included inflows from NNPCL and oil companies disguised as “book launch donations” and NGO funding, with relatives of Kyari reportedly used as fronts to manage the accounts.
Wider Corruption Trail
The Kyari investigation is part of a sweeping EFCC probe into the disbursement and use of refinery rehabilitation funds under the Buhari and Tinubu administrations.
At least 14 NNPCL insiders, including two former GCEOs, are under investigation, with EFCC sources saying over ₦80 billion has been traced to the personal accounts of a former refinery managing director.
“The focus is on funds released for the Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt refinery projects,” EFCC spokesperson Oyewale said in a previous briefing, describing the investigation as “comprehensive.”
President Bola Tinubu has since overhauled the NNPCL leadership, appointing Bashir Ojulari as GCEO and Ahmadu Kida as Non-Executive Chairman, with a clear mandate to rebuild public trust and attract fresh investment into the state-owned oil giant.
Kyari Pushes Back
Kyari, who served as NNPCL boss until April when the management was dissolved, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
In May, he dismissed reports linking him to the alleged diversion of $2.9 billion in refinery funds as “clear mischief” designed to tarnish his reputation.
“I must emphasise that I served with the fear of God, knowing fully well that if I do not account before man, I will account before Allah,” the 60-year-old wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
It remains unclear if Kyari was released after Wednesday’s grilling.
