THE former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, on Wednesday, submitted himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning.
News Point Nigeria reports that Kyari arrived at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Abuja at exactly 2:15 p.m., following an invitation to clarify financial and technical issues relating to his tenure as head of the national oil company.
Sources within the EFCC confirmed that Kyari’s appearance is connected to the ongoing investigation into the controversial $7.2 billion refineries’ turnaround maintenance project, which has long been a subject of public scrutiny and allegations of mismanagement.
It will be recalled that the EFCC had recently placed Kyari on its watch list, intensifying the spotlight on his stewardship of the oil giant.
The development came just days after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered a temporary freeze of four bank accounts linked to him over allegations of fraud and financial impropriety.
While details of his interrogation are still emerging, analysts believe the development signals a fresh determination by the EFCC to pursue high-profile cases in the oil and gas sector, long regarded as Nigeria’s economic backbone yet persistently plagued by corruption scandals.
Kyari, who resigned as NNPCL’s GCEO earlier this year, has not publicly commented on the allegations, but his decision to honour the EFCC’s invitation is seen as a strategic move to demonstrate cooperation with investigators.
The unfolding case is expected to generate significant national attention, given the multi-billion-dollar magnitude of the probe and the critical role of the NNPCL in Nigeria’s economy.
