….Kyari to Spend Weekend in Custody as Anti-Graft Agency Probes Oil Sector Irregularities
Abuja, Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Mele Kyari, the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), as part of a deepening probe into alleged financial mismanagement and abuse of office within the nation’s oil sector.
Sources close to the development confirmed that Kyari was taken into custody on Friday following weeks of investigation into suspected breaches in financial procedures, subsidy payments, and contract awards approved during his leadership.
Kyari is expected to remain in EFCC custody throughout the weekend as investigators intensify questioning. While the anti-graft agency has not yet released an official statement, a source within the EFCC confirmed the development on condition of anonymity.
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Corruption Probe Widening
The investigation, which has reportedly been ongoing for several months, is said to focus on alleged irregularities in oil transactions, opaque subsidy claims, and possible diversions of public funds running into billions of naira.
The EFCC’s silence has fueled speculation, but a top official within the agency disclosed that the former NNPC chief is being interrogated over multiple high-profile deals, many of which were flagged by external audit reviews.
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Mixed Reactions from Stakeholders
The detention of Kyari has drawn varied responses from the public and industry stakeholders.
The Centre for Transparency in Oil Governance commended the EFCC’s action, describing it as “a bold and necessary move to rebuild trust in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.”
In contrast, an anonymous executive at a multinational oil firm expressed concern about the implications for ongoing international partnerships. “This development raises concerns for investors and may affect long-term strategic planning,” he said.
Civil society organisations such as BudgIT and SERAP called for a transparent process, urging the EFCC to publish audit findings and ensure accountability across board levels, not just at the top.
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Timeline of Key Developments
2019: Mele Kyari appointed GMD of NNPC by President Muhammadu Buhari.
2021: Nigeria enacts the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA); NNPC transitions to a limited liability company.
2022: Kyari becomes the first GCEO of NNPC Limited under the new framework.
2023: Allegations of financial misconduct begin to surface, including questions over oil swaps and subsidy payments.
Q1 2024: EFCC launches discreet investigation into NNPC transactions.
May 2025: Kyari detained by EFCC amid widening probe.
Public Demands Transparency
The incident has triggered renewed public interest in NNPC’s financial practices.
Prof. Amina Ubah, a policy analyst at the University of Abuja, stressed the need for systemic reforms: “This is not just about one individual. If there are loopholes in oversight and regulation, then it’s a structural failure that must be addressed.”
The EFCC is expected to provide an official update in the coming days. Meanwhile, attention remains focused on what could be one of the most significant anti-corruption crackdowns in Nigeria’s oil industry since the enactment of the PIA.
