The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is preparing to prosecute former and serving officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and contractors over alleged abuse of office, money laundering, and contract fraud related to refinery maintenance. The EFCC Chairman took personal charge of the investigation because the refineries remained non-functional despite large public expenditures.

Accounts differ on the amount recovered. One report states the EFCC recovered ₦38.66 billion and other properties in connection with refinery maintenance fraud. Another report states the EFCC has recovered over ₦5 billion and $10 million from contractors and government officials indicted in the fraud involving the turnaround maintenance of refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri. The total amounts are incompatible without clarification on whether the ₦38.66 billion includes additional sums.

According to vreporters.com, the EFCC is working to recover another ₦10 billion and $13 million believed to have been diverted by contractors. Nigeria’s four refineries have not operated for a long time. Successive administrations have budgeted billions of dollars for the turnaround maintenance of the refineries in Warri, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt. The facilities have continued to underperform, forcing the country to rely heavily on imported petroleum products.