The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the recently sacked Managing Directors and top officials of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries over alleged mismanagement of funds earmarked for rehabilitation.
The investigation involves a total amount of $2.9 billion.
The EFCC is probing the following amounts allocated to each refinery:
– $1.5 billion for the Port Harcourt refinery
– $740 million for the Kaduna refinery
– $656 million for the Warri refinery
The former Managing Directors of Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd and Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd, Mr. Ibrahim Onoja and Efifia Chu, respectively, are among those arrested.
A senior EFCC source revealed that the commission is investigating the money released for refinery rehabilitation and that some officials have been arrested while others are still being sought.
Sources revealed that N80 billion was found in the account of one of the sacked MDs.
The EFCC investigation also involves the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, and 13 other former senior executives.
The EFCC document obtained by PUNCH indicates that the probe is focused on misappropriation of funds. The commission is determined to uncover the truth behind the billions of dollars released for refinery rehabilitation.
Credit: PUNCH
