The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered over ₦5bn and $10m from contractors and government officials indicted in fraudulent activities linked to the turnaround maintenance of Nigeria’s refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri.
DIP Connects gathered that the anti-graft agency is also working to recover another ₦10bn and $13m allegedly siphoned through contractors engaged for the maintenance projects.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, is said to have taken personal charge of the investigation, expressing displeasure over the refineries’ continued non-performance despite huge public spending.
Nigeria’s four refineries have remained largely dormant for decades, despite successive administrations budgeting billions of dollars for their rehabilitation. The facilities in Warri, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt have continued to underperform, forcing the country to depend heavily on imported petroleum products.
Investigations are focusing on $1,559,239,084.36 allocated to the Port Harcourt refinery, $740,669,600 released for Kaduna, and $656,963,938 approved for Warri.
Top EFCC sources revealed that fraudulent practices such as over-invoicing, contract inflation, and questionable payments were largely responsible for the refineries’ failure. Former management teams of the three refineries have been repeatedly interrogated in connection with these findings.
One source confirmed that investigations into some Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) officials allegedly involved in the contracts have been concluded, and charges will soon be filed.
The source said:
“Our investigation into the turnaround maintenance of the nation’s refineries in Warri, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt has revealed large-scale fraud. So far, ₦5bn and $10m have been recovered from contractors and government officials involved in inflated contracts and overpayments. Both former and serving officials of the NNPCL and the refineries may face prosecution.”
Another source disclosed that efforts are ongoing to recover an additional $13m and ₦10bn siphoned through contractors, as well as fresh allegations of contract inflation worth about $40m involving NNPCL officials and contractors hired to procure equipment.
The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached as calls and messages went unanswered. However, a senior official of the commission, who requested anonymity, confirmed the recoveries.
ADEOLA KUNLE
