The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former Chief Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Umar Ajiya Isa, over an alleged $7.2 billion fraud linked to the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s major refineries.
Also in EFCC custody is Jimoh Olasunkanmi, the former Managing Director of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company.
The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into the massive funds released for the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the Kaduna, Warri, and Port Harcourt refineries. Ajiya, in his role as CFO, was reportedly responsible for overseeing the disbursement of the funds.
Sources say the EFCC is probing several key NNPC officials for alleged corruption, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and kickbacks from contractors.
Among others under investigation are Tunde Bakare, current MD of Warri Refinery; Ahmed Adamu Dikko, former MD of Port Harcourt Refinery; and Ibrahim Monday Onoja, also a former MD of Port Harcourt Refinery.
EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, was unavailable for comment at the time of filing this report.
The investigation marks another major step in the federal government’s anti-corruption drive and raises fresh concerns over transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
