Mallam Mele Kyari, fmr NNPCL GCEO.
An alleged misuse of office and funds by Mallam Mele Kyari, the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), May have prompted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence investigation on him.
An obtained document by the media on Friday indicated the former NNPCL boss is under investigation alongside thirteen other former top officials of company for similar allegations. The EFCC’s document, titled “Investigation Activities: Request for Information”, was dated April 28, 2025, and addressed to the current Group Managing Director of NNPCL.
The document listed those under scrutiny, including Abubakar Yar’Adua, Isiaka Abdulrazak, Umar Ajiya, Dikko Ahmed, Ibrahim Onoja, Ademoye Jelili, Mustapha Sugungun, Kayode Adetokunbo, Efiok Akpan, Babatunde Bakare, Jimoh Olasunkanmi, Bello Kankaya, and Desmond Inyama.
EFCC has requested certified true copies of the salaries and allowances of the listed officials, including those who are now retired. The Commission said it is probing a case of abuse of office and financial mismanagement linked to these individuals.
Despite the seriousness of the probe, Olufemi Soneye, NNPCL’s spokesperson, declined to comment. He also failed to respond to repeated media inquiries, raising fresh concerns about the company’s transparency.
The development came amid growing public criticism of NNPCL’s performance, especially in its management of Nigeria’s oil refineries. Earlier reports revealed that the $897 million spent on revamping the Warri Refinery yielded no petrol production, leading to its shutdown just weeks after being declared functional.
Additionally, the \$1.5 billion rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt refinery reportedly left it working at below 38% capacity, casting further doubt on NNPCL’s claims of restoring the facilities. In December 2024, the Warri Refinery was reopened but had to be shut down again due to safety issues in its main heating unit.
A January 2025 media investigation also found that while NNPCL claimed production was ongoing at Warri, operations were minimal compared to when it was fully active, an assertion the company has denied.
