Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday stormed the Port Harcourt Refinery to interrogate Acting Managing Director Jelili Ademoye, just hours after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) dismissed the managing directors of its three state-owned refineries.

Those affected in Tuesday night’s shake-up included Ibrahim Onoja (Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited), Dr. Mustafa Sugungun (Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited), and Efifia Chu (Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited). The overhaul followed rising concerns over NNPC’s operational transparency and performance.

EFCC operatives arrived between 1:00 and 2:00 pm, bypassed standard protocols, and moved straight to Ademoye’s office before escorting him away. Ademoye had assumed the acting MD role following Onoja’s removal.

Sources said the EFCC aimed to retrieve key documents left by the outgoing MD. However, a refinery staffer, speaking anonymously, described the operation as aggressive and chaotic, likening it to “a kidnapping dressed in official garb.”

The source also claimed the raid nearly turned violent: “An EFCC official cocked his gun, triggering a tense standoff with the DSS, Army, and other security personnel. One wrong move, and lives could have been lost.”