September 10, (THEWILL) — The immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, on Wednesday appeared before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja over allegations of fraud at the state-owned oil company.
A source at the EFCC confirmed that Kyari arrived at the commission’s headquarters around 2:30 p.m. following an invitation linked to an ongoing probe into alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of funds involving former top officials of the NNPC.
The anti-graft agency had in a letter dated April 28, with reference number CR:3000/EFCC/ABJ/HQ/SDC.2/NNPC/VOL.1/698, demanded certified records of salaries and allowances of 14 past and present NNPC officials.
Those listed include Kyari; a former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, Ibrahim Onoja; former Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, Mustafa Sugungun; and a former NNPC Group Managing Director, Abubakar Yar’Adua.
Others are former Group Executive Director, Finance and Services, Isiaka Abdulrazak; former Chief Financial Officer of NNPC Limited, Umar Ajiya; former PHRC MD, Dikko Ahmed; power plant engineer, Ademoye Jelili; Manager, Production at NNPC/KRPC, Efiok Akpan; as well as Kayode Adetokunbo, Babatunde Bakare, Jimoh Olasunkanmi, Bello Kankaya, and Desmond Inyama.
“In view of the above, you are kindly requested to furnish certified true copies of their emoluments and allowances, including that of those who have retired and no longer work with your organisation,” the EFCC wrote.
The investigation is tied to the controversial $2.896 billion reportedly spent on refinery rehabilitation projects, broken down into $1.56 billion for the Port Harcourt refinery, $740.6 million for Kaduna refinery, and $656.9 million for Warri refinery.
While EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale earlier confirmed that investigations were ongoing, a Federal High Court in Abuja had also ordered a temporary freeze on all bank accounts linked to Kyari pending further inquiries.
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