‘I have done my part, EFCC must do theirs’, says Kyari after his release in alleged $7.2billion fraud saga
By Babajide Adekunle
Melee Kyari, former group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, has charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to pay its role effectively in the ongoing probe of alleged fraud that took place during his time in office.
Information available to this medium claimed the EFCC is probing an expenditure of $7.2billion for turnaround maintenance of the three ailing, government owned refineries.
The EFCC had invited Kyari for questioning but it released him on bail on Thursday.
“I have done my part; the EFCC must do theirs. When each of us does our duty, without fear or favour, with honour, respect, and commitment, Nigeria moves forward,” Kyari reportedly told journalists after his release.
The news of the EFCC probe first broke in March but Kyari, in a statement he issued, dismissed it as a ‘mischief’ from his traducers. He said, instead, he was having a “well-deserved rest” and promised to present himself to the anti-graft body anytime, if needed.
President Bola Tinubu, in April 2025, removed Kyari from his position, replacing him with Bayo Ojulari. The President also reconstituted the NNPCL board, replacing its erstwhile chairman Pius Akinyelure with Ahmadu Musa Kida. In the statement announcing the new appointments at the time, President Tinubu said he envisioned NNPCL investment to $30bn by 2027 and $60bn by 2030.
READ ALSO: Kyari rebukes media over alleged EFCC detention
“The Tinubu administration targets raising oil production to two million barrels daily by 2027 and three million daily by 2030.
“Concurrently, the government wants gas production jacked to 8 billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion cubic feet by 2030,” the statement issued by Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga stated.
