The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating Mele Kyari, the erstwhile group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, over alleged financial misappropriation.
A source within the EFCC confirmed that the ex-NNPC boss was being interrogated regarding alleged financial misappropriation of funds for maintenance of the three state-owned refineries during his tenure.
“We’re grilling him as to alleged financial misappropriation regarding the maintenance of the three refineries when he was there,” the source said.
“It’s been an ongoing investigation, and we invited him, and he came. He is still with the EFCC.”
The development comes one month after the federal high court in Abuja ordered the temporary freezing of four Jaiz Bank accounts linked to Kyari over alleged fraud.
Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, issued the order after an ex-parte motion by the EFCC.
On April 2, Tinubu removed Kyari, citing the need for “enhanced operational efficiency, restored investor confidence, and a more commercially viable NNPC”.
As part of the overhaul, the president appointed Bayo Ojulari to replace Kyari as the new group CEO, and Ahmadu Musa Kida as NNPC’s new non-executive chairman, replacing Pius Akinyelure.
On June 24, the anti-graft agency arrested Umar Isa, a former chief financial officer (CFO) of the NNPC, related to an alleged $7.2 billion fraud connected to the rehabilitation of the Kaduna, Warri, and Port Harcourt refineries.
