Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has returned a total of N3.94bn to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) after uncovering financial irregularities linked to the oil firm.

The funds were formally presented at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, where senior officials of both institutions gathered for the handover ceremony.

According to the EFCC, the recovered money was traced to fraudulent transactions involving certain individuals connected to NNPCL. The Commission said the recovery followed detailed investigations and careful tracking of financial activities.

Speaking on behalf of EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, Secretary to the Commission, Mohammed Hammajoda, reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to tackle corruption and financial crimes across the country. He noted that the Commission remains committed to safeguarding public resources, despite the risks faced by its personnel.

Hammajoda added that the EFCC’s efforts are driven by a duty to serve Nigerians and ensure accountability in public institutions.

Receiving the funds for NNPCL, Executive Vice President (Downstream), Mumuni Dagazau, praised the EFCC for its role in recovering the money. He described the development as a strong example of cooperation between government agencies.

Dagazau also said the recovery aligns with ongoing reforms within NNPCL aimed at improving transparency and addressing operational inefficiencies. He expressed confidence that collaboration between both organisations would continue to strengthen accountability in the oil sector.