Port Harcourt, Nigeria — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission don arrest some former managing directors and top officials of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company over alleged mismanagement of nearly $3 billion meant for rehabilitation of the refineries.
This arrest follow findings show say the EFCC dey look into the sum of $2,956,872,622.36 wey been allocated for the refineries, including $1,559,239,084.36 for Port Harcourt, $740,669,600 for Kaduna, and $656,963,938 for Warri.
Mr. Ibrahim Onoja, former managing director of Port Harcourt Refining Company, and Efifia Chu, former managing director of Warri Refining, na among the officials wey don face EFCC investigation.
Insider sources with NNPC Limited, wey dey manage these refineries, revealed say N80 billion don appear for one of the sacked MD’s accounts, raising further questions about the handling of funds.
As the new NNPCL management take over, they don also sack some senior officials, including Bala Wunti, wey be former chief of NNPCL subsidiary. This decision come after the refineries wey resume operations last November and December don dey underperform, especially the Port Harcourt refinery wey dey operate below 40% capacity.
An EFCC source wey talk with Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity confirm say dis arrest na part of ongoing investigation. “We dey track money wey dem release to fix the refineries, and all principal officers during that period go face questioning,” the official talk.
The probe extended to Mele Kyari, the immediate past Group CEO of NNPCL, as a document from EFCC request information about him and 13 other former executives for alleged abuse of office and fund misappropriation. NNPCL spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, don refuse to comment on the claims.
Kelvin Emmanuel, wey be energy expert, describe the commissioning of the refineries as “charade,” emphasizing say there is little evidence say dem truly revive the plants after multimillion-dollar rehabilitation.
Plans to restart the Warri refinery face delay due to an indefinite strike by support staff don set to begin May 5. Workers don complain about poor employment conditions, and their strike fit disrupt resumption plans.
Harry Okenini, Delta State Chairman of IPMAN, don also raise alarm concerning lack of petrol supply from the Warri refinery since it was inaugurated after rehabilitation. He ask the Federal Government to empower the new NNPCL leadership to operate freely.
In a separate statement, PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, call for thorough investigation about the state of the refineries, expressing concern about the misleading information regarding the functionality of the facilities.
Meanwhile, an energy analyst, Dan Kunle, criticized the government’s approach and question the decision to use a new contractor rather than the original Japanese builders, pointing out that Kaduna refinery lacks the necessary infrastructure to become operational.
“The ongoing waste of resources on these refineries is not just scandalous; it’s a mismanagement of public funds,” Kunle said.
This situation continue dey unfold as Nigerians dey watch closely for any changes in the operations of their state-owned oil refineries.
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