The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun interrogating the immediate past Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over allegations of financial impropriety during his tenure.
Reliable sources within the agency confirmed that Kyari is currently at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
“He is here with our investigators at the moment. This is all I can confirm for now,” one source disclosed.
Kyari was invited by the commission to provide clarifications on financial transactions that took place while he led the state-owned oil company. Efforts to reach EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale for official comments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
Allegations Under Probe
The ongoing investigation is linked to alleged irregularities in the management of several billions of dollars allocated for Nigeria’s struggling refineries.
Kyari had earlier been placed on the EFCC’s watch list in connection with a $7.2 billion refinery turnaround maintenance project.
In a related development, the Federal High Court in Abuja recently ordered the temporary freezing of four bank accounts linked to the former NNPCL boss, pending further investigations into alleged fraud.
Kyari’s Tenure
Appointed in 2019, Kyari served as NNPCL GMD until his replacement in July 2024. His tenure was marked by some notable reforms, including the transition of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation into a limited liability company.
ADEOLA KUNLE
