Alleged fraud: EFCC quizzes ex-NNPCL GMD, Mele Kyari

OPERATIVES of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, quizzed the immediate past Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr Mele Kyari, as part of the commission’s ongoing investigations into his tenure at the country’s oil company.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that Kyari arrived at the anti-corruption commission’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, at about 3:00p.m on Wednesday and was received by a team of investigators involved in the investigations of the NNPCL under him.

A reliable source, who preferred to remain anonymous since he was not authorised to speak on the investigations, disclosed that the former NNPCL GMD was invited by the commission to come and explain what he knows about the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the refineries at Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna and various contracts awarded under his leadership at the oil Company.

The source said: “We extended an invitation to him (Kyari) as part of the ongoing investigations on the refurbishment of Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries and the various contracts awarded by NNPCL under him.

“He arrived at our headquarters in Abuja today [Wednesday] in the afternoon and was immediately engaged by investigators for him to give his own sides of the whole things.”

The source added that he was not sure if Kyari would be allowed to go home since he was expected to answer questions on the whole scope of ongoing investigations.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached to confirm the report as of the time of filing this report. 

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court in Abuja had last month ordered temporarily freezing of four accounts linked with Kyari with Jaiz Bank Plc over allegations of fraud following an ex parte application filed by EFCC to that effect.

The anti-graft agency had in its application told the court that the accounts were under investigations on allegations of conspiracy, abuse if office and money laundering.

According to the commission’s ex parte application, investigation revealed that the sum of N661, 464,601.50 suspected to be illicit proceeds was trace to the four accounts linked to the former NNPCL boss, adding that two of them are in Kyari’s name, while the two others have Guwori Community Development Foundation as their account names.

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The bank accounts, according to EFCC, were being run by Kyari’s family members who served as fronts for him.

EFCC added its investigators traced large inflows from NNPCL and oil companies with dealings with the country’s oil company into the said accounts with Jaiz Bank.

Justice Nwite after granting the application had adjourned the matter to September 23.

Nigeria Tribune had reported in May that EFCC questioned a former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Umar Ajiya Isa, over alleged $7.2billion fraud perpetrated with the rehabilitation of the three refineries.

The commission also quizzed a former Managing Director, Warri Refinery, Jimoh Olasunkanmi, in connection with the refinery’s TAM.

The duo was among top NNPCL officials being investigated by the commission over the three refineries TAM as well as alleged abuse of office, corruption, diversion of funds and kickbacks from contractors.