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In a sweeping anti-corruption crackdown, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the recently sacked Managing Directors and several top officials of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries over the alleged mismanagement of $2.9 billion allocated for refinery rehabilitation projects.
Findings by The PUNCH revealed that the EFCC is probing $1.5 billion earmarked for the Port Harcourt Refinery, $740 million for the Kaduna Refinery, and $656 million for the Warri Refinery. The funds were intended for quick-fix rehabilitation aimed at restoring operations in Nigeria’s long-dormant state-owned refineries.
Among those arrested is Mr. Ibrahim Onoja, the former Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd, and Efifia Chu, former Managing Director of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd. Several other top officials connected to the disbursement and management of the funds are also in EFCC custody.
In a major breakthrough, EFCC investigators discovered a staggering N80 billion in the personal account of one of the sacked managing directors, raising serious questions about the diversion of public funds.
A senior EFCC official, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the arrests form part of an ongoing investigation into the controversial disbursement of billions of dollars for refinery upgrades.
“We are investigating the money that was released for the rehabilitation of all three refineries—money disbursed in recent times. All the principal officers within that time frame are being invited. Some have been arrested already, and we are still on the lookout for others. Nigerians are interested in seeing our refineries work. We are asking: where is the money, and what has happened to the refineries?” the source stated.
A confidential document obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), dated April 28, 2025, and titled ‘Investigation Activities: Request for Information’, reveals that the probe also includes the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the national oil firm, Mele Kyari.
In total, 13 former senior executives of the NNPCL are under investigation for their alleged roles in the misappropriation of rehabilitation funds.
The EFCC’s actions mark one of the most high-profile investigations into Nigeria’s oil sector in recent history, as public outcry continues over the epiletic state of the country’s refineries despite multi-billion dollar interventions.
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