EFCC Arrests Atlantic Refinery MD Over Alleged Diversion Of $35 Million Oil Funds

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, Akintoye Akindele.

The MD was arrested over alleged misappropriation, money laundering and diversion of public funds to the tune of $35m.

Sources who spoke to Punch disclosed that the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board was said to have paid $35m to Akindele to build a 2,000 barrel-per-day refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre and tank farm at Brass Free Trade Zone, Okpoama Community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

However, after receiving the money in December 2020, Akindele was accused of abandoning the projects.

One of the sources said, “Akindele, a promoter of the Energy Infrastructure Park financed by the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, in Okpoama community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa state, initially mooted the idea of the project to the board and the NCDMB embraced it with a counterpart funding to the tune of $35m.

“NCDMB allegedly paid $35m to Akindele to build a 2,000bpd refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre and tank farm at Brass Free Trade Zone, Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State.

“Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele allegedly abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum paid to him.”

Another source said Akindele allegedly received the money through the Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited and sent it to four of his companies.

The source said, “Akindele received the funds through the bank account of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited and funnelled the funds into four of his companies: Platform Capital Investment Partners, Duport Midstream Company Ltd., Puissance Afrique Dynamics Ltd, Adamantine Petrochemical & Refinery Ltd and Bureau de Change outlets.

“The EFCC has been on a manhunt for him for several months until he finally showed up when he could no longer bear the fire on him. He was thereafter arrested and detained at the commission’s holding facility in Abuja.”