The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially declared Ufoma Joseph Immanuel, the 46-year-old Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Chappal Energies Ltd (also called Chappal Petroleum Development Company), wanted in connection with an alleged case of obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.
According to the public notice issued by the EFCC, Immanuel, an indigene of Edo State, was last known to reside at 77 Nelson Mandela Street, Maitama, Abuja. The anti-graft agency is appealing to anyone with credible information on his whereabouts to contact its offices across Nigeria or use the hotline 0809 332 2644 or official email address.
Immanuel was appointed to his current role in January 2021 and is one of the founding partners of Chappal Energies, a company with a stated focus on ESG-driven upstream oil and gas operations in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. According to media reports, Chappal’s bid to acquire certain assets from TotalEnergies SE for about US $860 million collapsed in September when Chappal reportedly failed to meet critical financial obligations.
In response to the EFCC notice, Chappal Energies issued a statement saying the declaration bypassed due legal process. The company claims there was a subsisting court order — granted by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on September 11, 2025, in suit number CV/2913/2025 — restraining the EFCC from arresting or detaining Immanuel. The firm says the EFCC did not engage with Immanuel or the company through official channels before issuing the notice, and described the action as creating “the unfortunate impression of a public escalation”.
As of now, operations at Chappal Energies are reportedly continuing uninterrupted. Meanwhile, the EFCC continues to seek leads from members of the public that could lead to Immanuel’s location and arrest.
— Abuja Network News