The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former managing directors and top executives of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company over a multi-billion-dollar refinery rehabilitation scandal.
The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged mismanagement of $2.96 billion allocated for the revamp of Nigeria’s major refineries.
According to EFCC sources, the probe covers $1.56 billion released for the Port Harcourt refinery, $740.7 million for Kaduna, and $657 million for Warri.
Mr. Ibrahim Onoja, former MD of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, and Efifia Chu, ex-MD of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, are among those currently in EFCC custody.
In a shocking revelation, top NNPCL sources disclosed that ₦80 billion was traced to the personal bank account of one of the sacked managing directors.
The scandal has triggered widespread outrage, with industry stakeholders accusing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of deceiving the public about the readiness and performance of the refineries, particularly Port Harcourt and Warri, which reportedly resumed operations in late 2024 but have shown minimal output.
The investigation is expected to expand as pressure mounts on the NNPCL to account for the failed refinery rehabilitation projects.
