The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested three Chinese nationals in Ogere-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, after they were allegedly found residing in Nigeria with expired visitor permits.
The arrests were made on Wednesday, November 4, during a joint enforcement operation involving EFCC operatives and officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) at a suspected illegal refinery in the area.
The three foreigners were reportedly living in a heavily secured building directly opposite the refinery, which occupies more than three hectares of land.
During checks, the suspects allegedly presented Chinese passports bearing Nigerian Immigration Service entry stamps issued at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on May 9, 2026.
The stamps reportedly indicated that they were permitted to stay in Nigeria for 30 days, meaning their authorised stay expired on June 8, 2026.
However, the suspects were still in the country nearly five months after the expiration of their permits and were reportedly unable to produce valid residence or work permits.
An EFCC official involved in the operation reportedly questioned how the foreigners obtained immigration entry stamps without visas and continued residing in Nigeria beyond the authorised period.
The arrests came amid an investigation into suspected illegal petroleum refining activities at the site.
During an inspection of the facility, NMDPRA officials discovered underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil, alongside substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
The underground storage facility reportedly has a capacity exceeding 90,000 litres and contains heating systems, cooling equipment and locally fabricated tanks.
The regulatory authority subsequently sealed the facility over alleged violations of petroleum regulations, while the EFCC took the three Chinese nationals into custody for further investigation.
The latest arrests follow an earlier operation in the same Ogere area, during which the anti-graft agency arrested 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian over alleged illegal lithium processing at four plants.
The EFCC is continuing its investigations to establish the full circumstances surrounding the latest arrests and the suspected illegal activities in the area.
