The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to invite the immediate-past group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over the ongoing probe into the $7.2billion refineries’ turnaround maintenance.
An EFCC source said investigations into the activities of the NNPCL during the period Kyari held sway reached an advanced stage last month after his close associates were arrested.
It would be noted that some of his associates had been interrogated on how some funds earmarked for the maintenance of the country’s refineries were managed.
The EFCC source, who asked not to be mentioned, said that the anti-graft commission would soon invite Kyari for interrogation.
According to the source, “I can assure you that we have even gone far with his (Kyari’s) investigation. Don’t forget that in criminal investigations, territorial integrity and territorial boundaries of countries have no effect on criminal investigations.
“This is because the anti-corruption agencies operate at the transnational level, whether somebody leaves the country or not, it has nothing to do with our investigations, because whenever we need him, we will get him, and he’s already on our watchlist.
“We are investigating him (Mele Kyari) and our investigation has reached an advanced stage. How is it possible that we will not investigate him when those around him are already being investigated?
“The fact that the commission is not talking about him is for us to be able to get some critical information. We are discreet about it because there are so many officials that are involved.
“It is deliberate that we are not talking about him (Kyari). It is to assist us in our investigations and to ensure that we get the right report that we need.”
