The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has dismissed several senior executives who served under the tenure of former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mele Kyari.
Among those affected are Bala Wunti, former head of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS); Ibrahim Onoja, managing director of the Kaduna Refinery; and Lawal Sade, chief compliance officer and former MD of NNPC Trading. According to TheCable, over 200 staff members have been impacted, signaling the start of what may be a wider organizational overhaul.
The restructuring, which follows the appointment of Bayo Ojulari as GCEO on April 2, 2025, has also ushered in more women into top roles. Maryam Idrisu has been named the new managing director of NNPC Trading, overseeing all crude oil transactions, while Obioma Abangwu has been appointed chief liaison officer for board matters.
NNPC had earlier unveiled a new senior management team just days after Ojulari assumed office. The appointments include Rowland Ewubare as group chief operating officer; Adedapo Segun as group chief finance officer; Olalekan Ogunleye, executive vice-president for gas, power, and new energy; Udy Ntia, executive vice-president for upstream; Mumuni Dagazau, EVP for downstream; Sophia Mbakwe, EVP for business services; and Adesuwa Dozie, company secretary and chief legal officer.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has acknowledged receipt of a petition calling for an investigation into alleged corruption under Mele Kyari’s leadership. The petition was submitted by a coalition of lawyers and civil society organizations, led by Asika Raymond of the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed that the commission will look into the allegations, which include fraud, tax evasion, economic sabotage, and abuse of office during Kyari’s tenure from July 2019 to February 2025.
The petition accuses Kyari of inflating refinery rehabilitation costs—citing the $1.5 billion spent on the Port Harcourt Refinery against an initial $1 billion estimate—and diverting crude oil allocations under opaque “pipeline security” arrangements. It also raises concerns about the transparency of NNPC’s $21.565 billion crude-backed loans and fuel subsidy claims, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
Furthermore, the group is demanding a forensic audit of all consultant and contractor payments from 2019 to 2025 and a probe into suspected tax evasion in collaboration with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
