
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Umar Isa, a former Chief Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), in connection with an alleged $7.2 billion fraud related to the rehabilitation of the Kaduna, Warri, and Port Harcourt refineries.
Also in EFCC custody is Jimoh Olasunkanmi, a former Managing Director of the Warri Refinery.
Isa, during his tenure as CFO, was said to have overseen the disbursement of funds for the turnaround maintenance of the three refineries.
Sources told *WAFFI TV* that he, alongside several key officials involved in the refinery projects and other major NNPCL undertakings, are under investigation for alleged abuse of office, misappropriation of funds, corruption, and receipt of kickbacks from contractors.
Others being investigated include Tunde Bakare, current Managing Director of Warri Refinery; Ahmed Dikko and Ibrahim Onoja, both former Managing Directors of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
As of the time of filing this report, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale had not responded to inquiries for comment.
This development follows recent revelations by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada, which flagged trillions of naira in discrepancies in NNPCL’s audited financial reports from 2017 to 2023. The committee described the findings as alarming and handed over 11 audit queries to the NNPCL finance team, giving them one week to respond.