Former NNPCL Boss Mele Kyari Released After EFCC Interrogation Over Fraud Allegations

Mele Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has been released after being briefly detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

His release followed an appearance at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, where he responded to an invitation from the anti-corruption agency regarding ongoing fraud investigations at the state-owned oil company.

According to insider reports, Kyari was summoned to provide clarity on substantial financial dealings during his tenure as NNPCL chief, particularly concerning funds allocated for the Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of Nigeria’s refineries.

An EFCC source, who requested anonymity, confirmed that Kyari arrived at the Commission’s office around 2:30 p.m. and was questioned for several hours by investigators before being allowed to leave. “Yes, Kyari is in our office,” the source said at the time. “He is currently with the investigative team as part of our ongoing probe into the NNPCL.”

Kyari, reportedly on the EFCC’s watchlist, is under scrutiny just days after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered a temporary freeze on four bank accounts linked to him at Jaiz Bank. The order was issued by Justice Emeka Nwite following an ex parte application by EFCC counsel, Ogechi Ujam.

The investigation intensified after the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada, flagged serious irregularities in the NNPCL’s audited financial reports. The committee described discrepancies involving trillions of Naira between 2017 and 2023 as “mind-boggling and deeply troubling,” and demanded answers to 11 specific queries from the NNPCL finance team, giving them a week to respond.

Kyari’s troubles are further compounded by recent high-level changes at the NNPCL. Following mounting allegations of large-scale corruption within the organization, President Bola Tinubu approved a sweeping reconstitution of the company’s board. This shake-up saw Kyari and the former board chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure, removed from their roles, along with all board members appointed in November 2023.