The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed a former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, on its watchlist as part of its ongoing probe into the controversial $7.2 billion refineries’ turnaround maintenance project, Daily Trust has gathered.
In a related development, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the temporary freezing of four bank accounts linked to Kyari over alleged fraudulent transactions connected to the case.
Sources within the anti-graft agency said the decision to place Kyari under surveillance was taken to prevent his possible escape from the country as investigators deepen their scrutiny into contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries.
The turnaround maintenance, which has gulped billions of dollars over the years without restoring the refineries to optimal capacity, remains one of the most controversial spending items in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The EFCC is expected to invite Kyari for questioning in the coming days, while the court’s freezing order is to last pending the conclusion of investigations.
