EFCC arrests six top NNPC officials over alleged $7.2bn refinery rehabilitation fraud
By Kunle Sanni –
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Umar Ajiya Isa, former Chief Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, over an alleged $7.2 billion fraud linked to the rehabilitation of the Kaduna, Warri, and Port Harcourt refineries.
Ajiya, who oversaw the release of funds for the Turn Around Maintenance of the three refineries, is under investigation for alleged abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and receiving kickbacks from contractors.
A source within the commission also confirmed that Jimoh Olasunkanmi, former Managing Director of the Warri Refinery, is currently in EFCC custody as part of the probe.
Other officials reportedly under investigation include Tunde Bakare, Managing Director of Warri Refinery; Ahmed Adamu Dikko, former Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refinery; and Ibrahim Monday Onoja, also a former MD of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
The anti-graft agency is probing how billions of dollars were disbursed without any significant progress in refinery rehabilitation, despite repeated allocations and approvals.
The arrests come amid growing scrutiny of NNPC’s operations under past leadership and follow broader reforms initiated by the current administration to promote transparency and accountability in the oil sector.
In April, President Bola Tinubu dissolved the NNPC Limited board, removing Mele Kyari as Group Chief Executive Officer and appointing Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as his replacement.
