Graft Grips Refineries: $3bn Fraud Allegations Rock NNPCL as Ex-MDs Face Arrest

Abuja, Nigeria – A massive corruption scandal is unfolding within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended the recently dismissed managing directors of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC). Their arrests are linked to the alleged mismanagement of a staggering $2.96 billion earmarked for the rehabilitation of the nation’s long-dormant refineries.

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Investigations by Saturday PUNCH reveal that the anti-graft agency is scrutinizing the allocation of $1.56 billion to the Port Harcourt refinery, $740.67 million designated for the Kaduna refinery, and $656.96 million approved for the Warri refinery..

Adding another layer to the deepening crisis, impeccable sources within the top management of NNPCL have disclosed the discovery of approximately N80 billion in the bank accounts of one of the sacked managing directors. This startling revelation has drawn comparisons to previous high-profile corruption cases.

The former heads of these critical national assets now in EFCC custody are Mr. Ibrahim Onoja, who served as the ex-Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd, and Efifia Chu, the former Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd.

Kyari, Others Under Scrutiny
The probe extends beyond the sacked MDs, as a document obtained by this newspaper, dated April 28, 2025, explicitly names the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, among those under investigation. The EFCC document, titled ‘Investigation Activities: Request for Information’, was addressed to the current NNPCL Group Managing Director and lists 13 other former senior executives of the national oil firm.

The EFCC’s letter states, “The commission is investigating a case of abuse of office and misappropriation of funds in which the underlisted officials of your organisation featured.” The listed individuals include Abubakar Yar’Adua, Mele Kyari, Isiaka Abdulrazak, Umar Ajiya, Dikko Ahmed, Ibrahim Onoja, Ademoye Jelili, Mustapha Sugungun, Kayode Adetokunbo, Efiok Akpan, Babatunde Bakare, Jimoh Olasunkanmi, Bello Kankaya, and Desmond Inyama. The commission has requested certified true copies of their emoluments and allowances, even for those who have retired.

The spokesperson for the NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, has remained silent on these serious allegations, failing to respond to repeated inquiries.

Refineries’ Revival Claims Unravel
This unfolding scandal coincides with growing skepticism and criticism from industry experts and operators regarding the actual operational status of the refineries, particularly the Port Harcourt and Warri plants, which were touted to have resumed operations in November and December 2024, respectively.

Barely a month after its widely celebrated restart, the Warri refinery was abruptly shut down again in January 2025 due to critical safety concerns. The Port Harcourt refinery, despite a high-profile recommissioning, has reportedly been operating significantly below its stated 40 percent capacity.

A recent document from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) revealed that the Warri refinery, despite consuming $897.6 million in maintenance costs, failed to produce Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and was idled due to safety issues in its Crude Distillation Unit Main Heater.

Similarly, the Port Harcourt facility has not exceeded 42.23 percent of its operational capacity in the past six months.

Energy expert Kelvin Emmanuel, speaking on Arise News, labeled the commissioning events a “charade,” asserting that the refineries were never genuinely ready for operation. He highlighted that the $2.96 billion allocated for the turnaround maintenance could have built a new 60,000-barrel refinery.

Marketers Voice Frustration, Staff Threaten Strike
Independent petroleum marketers have expressed their frustration over the continued lack of locally refined petrol. Harry Okenini, the Delta State Chairman of IPMAN, lamented the inability of members to lift products from the Warri refinery since its purported recommissioning, forcing them to rely on private depots with fluctuating prices.

Adding to the operational woes, plans to restart a section of the Warri refinery are now threatened by an indefinite strike action planned by plant support staff, commencing on Monday, May 5, 2025. The workers are protesting against casualisation, low pay, and a lack of benefits, issues that have lingered since 2015. A representative of the support staff stated that promises of improved conditions made during the refinery’s quick-fix program have not been fulfilled.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has also called for a thorough investigation into the true state of the refineries. While the association initially defended the claims of operationality based on site visits, its National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, acknowledged the need to revisit and ascertain what went wrong following the recent revelations.

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Another energy expert, Dan Kunle, described the refinery renovation efforts as a “scandal.” He alleged that the government failed to engage the original Japanese builders due to security concerns and instead employed another contractor at a high cost with little to show. Kunle further pointed out the logistical challenges, stating that the Kaduna refinery lacks a functional pipeline to supply crude oil, rendering any rehabilitation efforts potentially futile. He accused the immediate past NNPCL leadership of using public funds for misleading media campaigns.

These developments paint a grim picture of Nigeria’s efforts to revitalize its crucial oil refining infrastructure, raising serious questions about transparency, accountability, and the prudent management of public funds within the nation’s oil sector. The ongoing EFCC investigation is expected to shed more light on the alleged fraud and the true state of the refineries.