Sacked MDs of Kaduna, PH, Warri refineries in EFCC custody over $2.9bn fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the recently sacked managing directors and some top officials of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries over alleged fraud.
The scam stems from alleged mismanagement of funds meant for the rehabilitation of the refineries.
According to report by The PUNCH, N80 billion was reportedly discovered in the bank account of one of the dismissed MDs.
The total amount under investigation stands at $2.9 billion, comprNNising $1.5 billion allocated for the Port Harcourt refinery, $740 million for the Kaduna refinery, and $656 million for the Warri refinery.
The former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd is Mr. Ibrahim Onoja, while Efifia Chu served as the MD of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd.
A top EFCC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the arrests as part of an ongoing probe into the funds disbursed for the so-called “quick-fix” maintenance of the three government-owned refineries.
“We are investigating the money that was released for the rehabilitation of all three refineries—money disbursed in recent times.
“All the principal officers within that time frame are being invited. Some have been arrested already, and we are still on the lookout for others.
“Nigerians are interested in seeing our refineries work. We are asking: where is the money, and what has happened to the refineries?” the official said.
