Nearly seven months after launching investigations into the alleged mismanagement of billions of dollars allocated for the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has yet to arraign any suspects, fueling public concern over the pace and transparency of the probe.
The investigation centres on funds earmarked for the overhaul of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, all subsidiaries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
In May, the EFCC invited several top executives and senior officials of the three refineries for questioning over allegations that approximately $2.95 billion meant for refinery maintenance and rehabilitation was mismanaged or diverted.
Despite reports that the anti-graft agency recovered “huge sums” during the course of its investigation, no formal charges have been filed, and none of the officials reportedly questioned have been brought before a court.
The prolonged silence from the EFCC has raised questions among industry observers, civil society groups and lawmakers, particularly given the scale of the funds involved and the strategic importance of the refineries to Nigeria’s energy security.
The Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries have remained largely non-operational for years, despite repeated assurances by successive governments that rehabilitation efforts would restore domestic refining capacity and reduce dependence on fuel imports.
The controversy gained momentum earlier this year when reports emerged that several refinery managers and senior officers had been sacked or redeployed following internal reviews by NNPCL, prompting calls for a thorough criminal investigation.
While the EFCC confirmed at the time that investigations were ongoing, the agency has remained tight-lipped on the identities of suspects, the status of recovered funds, or a possible timeline for prosecution.
Anti-corruption advocates say the delay risks undermining public confidence in the fight against corruption, especially in the oil and gas sector, which has long been plagued by allegations of financial mismanagement.
Some analysts argue that the absence of visible progress may also embolden impunity, noting that high-profile corruption cases often stall without clear outcomes, despite early publicity and dramatic claims of recoveries.
The EFCC has neither denied nor confirmed whether legal or procedural hurdles are responsible for the delay, nor has it clarified whether additional suspects, including contractors or consultants linked to the refinery projects, are under investigation.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with high fuel prices and foreign exchange pressures linked to fuel imports, critics say accountability over the failed refinery rehabilitation projects is not only a legal necessity but an economic imperative.
For now, the refinery probe remains shrouded in uncertainty, with billions of dollars, public trust and the credibility of anti-corruption institutions hanging in the balance as Nigerians await concrete action from the EFCC.
