A coalition of protesters under the banner of Concerned Citizens Against Corruption stormed the Federal Ministry of Justice on Tuesday, calling on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to launch an immediate probe into the activities of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari.
The protest, which took place in Abuja, came in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s dissolution of the NNPCL board and the removal of Kyari on April 2, 2025. However, the group expressed dismay that no concrete steps had been taken since then to investigate what they described as “deep-rooted corruption and lack of transparency” during Kyari’s tenure.
Leading the protest, the group’s convener, Kabir Matazu, said Nigerians were losing confidence in the government's anti-corruption drive due to the apparent silence following Kyari's dismissal.
“It is not enough to remove the leadership of NNPCL. What Nigerians want now is accountability — we demand a full-scale investigation into the activities of Mele Kyari and his team over the past five years,” Matazu declared.
He highlighted several areas of concern, particularly the multi-billion-dollar rehabilitation of government-owned refineries, which he described as murky and riddled with inconsistencies.
One of the most troubling revelations, the group noted, is the reported $2 billion debt allegedly owed by the NNPCL to Matrix Energy Limited. According to the protesters, the debt is being repaid not in cash but through daily crude oil allocations — a situation they say has not been explained to the Nigerian public.
“In addition to the $1.5 billion reportedly approved by the Federal Executive Council for the Port Harcourt refinery, Kyari’s administration claimed that Matrix Energy also injected $400 million into the same project. How is it possible that a private entity can invest in a government-funded refinery and still be owed $2 billion?” Matazu queried.
He accused the former NNPCL management of deliberately withholding information from the public and entering into questionable agreements that are now impacting Nigeria’s already fragile economy.
“This lack of transparency has created a cloud of suspicion. The Federal Government must disclose how and why these deals were made, who approved them, and what Nigeria has received in return,” he added.
The protesters also called for a judicial review of all agreements entered into by the NNPCL under Kyari’s leadership, stressing that the country cannot afford to overlook possible financial mismanagement at a time of economic strain.
They further demanded that a commission of inquiry be set up to examine the full scope of refinery rehabilitation efforts, the terms of all partnerships entered into by the NNPCL, and how public funds were utilised.
“Only a thorough and transparent investigation will restore public confidence and help prevent a repeat of past mistakes,” Matazu concluded.
The group vowed to continue their advocacy until the Federal Government takes decisive action on the matter.
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