…Mele Kyari arrived at the EFCC facility around 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | After weeks of speculation and silence, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has reported to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.
Kyari, who had been under scrutiny following his exit from office, arrived at the EFCC facility around 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday. His appearance comes after multiple invitations from the anti-graft agency, which he had previously ignored.
A senior EFCC official confirmed to The iNews Times that Mele Kyari was being questioned over “financial and technical irregularities” that allegedly occurred during his tenure. Central to the probe is the controversial $7.2 billion earmarked for the turnaround maintenance of Nigeria’s moribund refineries.
“The Commission has had cause to invite Mr. Kyari on several occasions. His failure to honour the invitations led to his being placed on a watchlist,” a top EFCC source disclosed.
In a related development, the Federal High Court in Abuja recently ordered the temporary freezing of four bank accounts linked to Mele Kyari. The court ruling followed an ex-parte motion filed by the EFCC as part of its wider investigation into financial misconduct and potential diversion of public funds.
Although details of Kyari’s interrogation remain undisclosed, sources say he may be held for further questioning as investigators dig deeper into the financial transactions tied to his time at the helm of the NNPCL.
The Commission has yet to release an official statement on whether charges will follow, but insiders suggest the interrogation could mark a turning point in one of the most high-profile corruption probes involving Nigeria’s oil sector in recent years.
As public interest grows, pressure is mounting on the EFCC to ensure a transparent and conclusive investigation.
