$7.2bn Alleged refineries maintenance fraud: EFCC arrests ex-NNPC top official, others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former Chief Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) Limited, Umar Ajiya Isa.

It was gathered on Monday from the economic crime commission’s officials in an update on the alleged fraud, revealed that Mr Isa was arrested in connection with alleged $7.2billion fraud associated with the rehabilitation of the Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt refineries.

The three refineries have underperformed and recorded zero production over the years despite annual allocation of turnaround maintenance to them.

According to the sources es, Mr Isa was detained by the agency along with a former Managing Director of Warri Refinery, Jimoh Olasunkanmi.

Mr Isa, as CFO, was in charge of release of funds for the Turn around Maintenance of the three refineries.

Sources said the three key officials and others in- volved in other NNPC projects are being investigated for alleged abuse of office, corruption, diversion of funds and kickbacks from contractors.

Other officials also facing probe are Tunde Baka- re, Managing Director, Warri Refinery; Ahmed Adamu Dikko, former Managing Director, Port Harcourt Refinery, and Ibrahim Monday Onoja, former Managing Director, Port Harcourt Refinery.

EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached for his comments.