Former NNPC GCEO Mele Kyari returns to EFCC for a second round of interrogation over multi-billion naira refinery rehabilitation fraud. His passport seized, investigation ongoing
Former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, on Thursday returned to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja for a second round of questioning.
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Kyari, who was first grilled on Wednesday over allegations tied to refinery turnaround maintenance, petroleum resource management, and contract awards, was released late that night but placed on administrative bail.
A senior EFCC official confirmed that Kyari’s travel documents, including his passport, have been confiscated as part of bail conditions.
“He was released late yesterday, went home, and came back today. He is still with us as I speak. He will continue to report until we are done with the interrogation,” the source said.
In August, the EFCC froze four bank accounts linked to Kyari in Jaiz Bank, said to hold over ₦661m suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
So far, the agency has reportedly recovered more than ₦5bn and \$10m from contractors and officials involved in fraudulent refinery maintenance deals, with another ₦10bn and \$13m still being traced.
Kyari, who became NNPC boss in 2019 and the first CEO of NNPCL in 2021, faces scrutiny over billions of naira allocated to Nigeria’s refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna.
Despite investments of \$1.5bn (Port Harcourt), \$740.6m (Kaduna) and \$656.9m (Warri), the plants remain largely dormant, forcing Nigeria to rely on fuel imports.
The EFCC, led by its chairman Ola Olukoyede, says it has uncovered widespread over-invoicing, contract inflation and questionable payments linked to the failed projects.
Former refinery managers have also been interrogated, with criminal charges expected soon.
The probe comes amid public frustration over Nigeria’s moribund refineries despite decades of heavy spending on rehabilitation.
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Successive governments have poured billions of dollars into turnaround maintenance without results, raising questions of systemic corruption.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
