Nigeria's EFCC recovers $21 million in refinery fraud probe amid high‑profile minister trial

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered over ₦38.66 billion (about $21.2 million) and several landed properties linked to the alleged diversion of funds for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries. The investigation targets officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, former and serving managing directors of the three refineries, and major contractors including Daewoo Engineering Nigeria and Tecnimont SPA. More than 30 senior NNPCL officials and over 50 contractor representatives have been questioned. Specific cases include former Port Harcourt refinery MD Ahmed Dikko, from whom ₦983.9 million, $227,030 and three properties were traced, and Warri refinery official Jimoh Yisawu, linked to payments amounting to over $10 million and ₦8 billion.

Separately, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) praised the EFCC’s continued pursuit of high‑profile corruption cases, citing the ongoing trial of former Labour Minister Chris Ngige over alleged procurement irregularities at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund. HEDA highlighted court evidence that challenges Ngige’s claim of acting on a presidential directive and called for transparent, impartial judicial proceedings to uphold public confidence in anti‑corruption efforts.