The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has arrested top former Management staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Ltd).
Those arrested by the anti-graft agency included, Umar Ajiya Isa, former Chief Financial Officer, Jimoh Olasunkanmi, former Managing Director of the Warri Refinery, Ahmed Adamu Dikko, former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refinery and Ibrahim Monday Onoja, also a former MD, Port Harcourt Refinery.
Also arrested by the EFCC as a result of his alleged involvement in the TAM fraud is Tunde Bakare, a former Managing Director of the Warri Refinery,
It was gathered that Ajiya Isa was arrested in connection with alleged $7.2 billion fraud linked with the rehabilitation of the Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt refineries.
Reliable sources within the commission confirmed that the arrested former top officials of the NNPC are presently in the custody of the EFCC and assisting the commission with investigation.
It was gathered that Ajiya Isa, as Chief Finance Officer, was in charge of the release of funds for the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the three refineries.
Checks indicated that all the key officials involved in the maintenance of the refineries and other key projects of the NNPC Ltd are being investigated for alleged abuse of office, corruption, diversion of funds and kickbacks from contractors.
