NNPC refinery probe drags as EFCC keeps mum on suspects

EFCC officers

Nearly seven months after opening investigations into the alleged mismanagement of funds earmarked for the rehabilitation of Federal Government-owned refineries, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has yet to arraign any of the sacked officers of the facilities despite reported recovery of huge sums.

The anti-graft agency had, in May, invited top executives of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company over the alleged diversion of sums said to be about $2.95bn for the maintenance of the refineries.

This followed the sacking of the managing directors of the refineries in April, alongside other senior officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

The disengagement also affected several officials who had about one year left before their retirement.

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Earlier in April, President Bola Tinubu had relieved the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, of his position.

Tinubu also directed other members of the NNPC board to step aside as part of a broader restructuring aimed at reviving the crude oil and gas output and addressing years of operational inefficiencies.

Probe, funds recovered

Days after the shake-up, the EFCC invited the former refinery chiefs over allegations of mismanaging $2.95bn allocated for the quick-fix rehabilitation of the three state-owned refineries.