EFCC Uncovers Illegal Refinery Linked to Chinese Nationals in Ogun State

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered an illegal oil refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in the Ogere area of Ogun State.

The facility was discovered on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 following intelligence gathering and surveillance of suspected illegal sludge oil refining activities.

The EFCC disclosed the development in a statement issued by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday.

According to the commission, the facility was deserted when operatives arrived, following an earlier crackdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the same area.

Despite the absence of the operators, investigators discovered waste materials believed to have resulted from the refining process, alongside underground tanks suspected to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.

The commission said two of the underground tanks inspected contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil, commonly known as diesel.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the operators sourced sludge oil, also called black sludge, from Warri in Delta State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State before transporting it to Ogere for processing.

The EFCC explained that the suspected operators subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through chambers and filters in a process believed to produce diesel for sale in the Nigerian market.

Security personnel at the facility reportedly told investigators that the Chinese nationals operating the refinery had never disclosed their identities or the name of the company behind the operation.

The commission said it had taken over the premises while investigations continued to identify those responsible, establish ownership of the facility and determine the full extent of the suspected illegal activities.

The discovery comes amid the EFCC’s intensified crackdown on illegal industrial and mineral-processing operations in Ogun State.

In a related operation, the commission had earlier uncovered four illegal lithium-processing plants in Ogere, leading to the arrest of 15 suspects, including 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian, over alleged unauthorised processing activities.

The EFCC said the latest investigation would establish whether the refinery was involved in economic sabotage and identify everyone connected to its operation.

No arrests had been announced in connection with the refinery as of the commission’s latest statement.

Source: PUNCH Newspapers⁠ | Channels Television⁠