Former NNPCL GCEO Mele Kolo Kyari is under EFCC investigation over $2bn refinery repair funds. His passport has been seized as detectives probe TAM and contracts awarded
[Details] EFCC Grills Ex-NNPCL Boss Mele Kyari Over $2bn Refinery Repair Funds, Seizes Passport
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a major probe into the tenure of former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kolo Kyari, over the controversial funding of refinery repairs.
Kyari was taken before investigators at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday. By 8:30pm, he had not been released, sparking speculation about possible detention. His international passport was also seized to restrict his movement.
According to EFCC insiders, detectives are scrutinizing: The disbursement of over $2 billion allocated for Turn-Around Maintenance (TAM) – including $1.55 billion to Port Harcourt Refinery, $740.6 million to Kaduna Refinery, and $656.9 million to Warri Refinery.
The contracts awarded during his tenure as NNPCL boss.
How N4.8 trillion was allegedly spent on refinery operating costs despite the facilities being largely non-functional.
An EFCC source disclosed, “After the probe of TAM, Kyari will proceed to the second phase of the investigation, which is about the humongous contracts awarded during his tenure. So far, we have seized his international passport to limit his movement in the course of investigation.”
The source added that some of Kyari’s former officials had already refunded portions of TAM funds to the EFCC, raising further questions about accountability.
Kyari, who was appointed in 2019 and removed on April 2, 2025, maintained he had nothing to hide. In a statement titled “Hard questions, honest answers”, he said:
“I have done my part; the EFCC must do theirs. When each of us does our duty – without fear of favor, with honour, respect and commitment – Nigeria moves forward.”
Billions Sunk Into Refineries, Little to Show
Nigeria’s four state-run refineries – two in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna – have a combined installed capacity of 445,000 barrels per day (bpd). Despite this, they have been largely comatose for years.
Between 2010 and 2025, about $18 billion was spent on TAM, yet the plants remain dysfunctional.
Contracts awarded under Kyari included: $497.3 million “quick fix” repair of Warri Refinery to Daewoo Engineering and Construction Limited in June 2022.
A 2017 contract to Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited for a technical plant survey of Warri and Kaduna refineries worth over €2 million.
A February 2023 renovation deal with Daewoo for Kaduna Refinery, aimed at restoring production capacity to 110,000 bpd.
Ojulari Reveals Huge Refinery Losses
Kyari’s successor, Bayo Ojulari, revealed the extent of losses shortly after taking office.
“When I resumed, one of the first priorities I focused on was the refinery. I did a quick review to see if we could quickly fix it. What I found is that we were losing between $300 million to $500 million on a monthly basis in the refinery,” Ojulari said during a meeting with PENGASSAN leaders.
He explained that the Port Harcourt Refinery, briefly restarted in November 2024 under Kyari, was halted in May 2025 to stop massive financial hemorrhaging.
“The first thing we said was rather than continue to lose, let’s quickly stop and look for a way to put this refinery into a sustainably profitable venture,” Ojulari added.
The NNPCL is now working on a Public-Private Partnership model similar to NLNG to revive the refineries sustainably.
As the EFCC continues its investigation, the spotlight remains on Kyari and how billions of dollars allocated for refinery rehabilitation vanished with little to show for it. Read More
