LAGOS, May 4, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Nigeria's anti-corruption agency has launched a probe into the former heads of the west African country's state oil company following their sacking last month on money laundering allegations.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has ordered the national oil company NNPC to turn over the financial documents of 14 of its current and former executives, including former CEO Mele Kyari.

Kyari was dismissed in early April by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with the entire NNPC board.

"The Commission is investigating a case of Abuse of Office and Misappropriation of Funds in which the under-listed officials of your organization featured," read a Commission statement dated April 28.

Kyari said Saturday that he was not in the custody of the EFCC and was "taking a well-deserved rest" after leaving NNPC.

"The resort to disinformation does not serve anyone's purpose... as it has the potential to send the wrong signals to investors and the international community," he posted on X.

Aside from Kyari, the EFCC has named former managing director Abubakar Yar'Adua, former directors of the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries, Ibrahim Onoja and Mustafa Sugungun, as well as former chief financial officer Umar Ajiya.

The NNPC has long been the subject of allegations of corruption, political interference and mismanagement.

Nigerian oil production has slid back in recent years, to less than a million barrels per day by 2023, far below the government's target of two million barrels by 2027.

The state-owned oil company is expected to contribute at least 10 percent of the country's daily production by 2027.