No fewer than 500 lawyers, professionals, and civil rights activists converged on the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja on Wednesday, calling for strict and continuous prosecution of Mele Kyari, former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The protest, organized under the Concerned Lawyers and Citizens Network (CLCN), decried the alleged misappropriation of $4 billion earmarked for failed refinery rehabilitation projects, labeling it “economic treason” and a betrayal of Nigeria’s economic future.
Barrister Theophilus Ojonugwa, spokesperson for the Network, condemned Kyari for portraying himself as a statesman while Nigerians continue to endure the fallout from mismanaged resources. “This is not merely a financial crime; it is an assault on human dignity and a subversion of national development,” Ojonugwa said, linking the scandal to persistent fuel shortages, reliance on imported petroleum, unbuilt schools, unequipped hospitals, and lost employment opportunities.
The Network raised alarms over MSM Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited, allegedly owned by Kyari’s in-law, as a conduit for laundering proceeds, while criticizing the EFCC for selective prosecution and alleged leniency toward high-profile offenders. They demanded Kyari’s immediate arrest, prosecution of his accomplices, and seizure of all related assets. Additionally, they called for an independent forensic audit by reputable international firms to trace misappropriated funds.
Highlighting the broader implications of the scandal, Ojonugwa warned that continued impunity risks cementing Nigeria’s reputation as a “sanctuary for looters.” The Network urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make Kyari’s case a “watershed moment” in the nation’s fight against corruption and to fulfill his pledge of uncompromising anti-corruption enforcement.
The protest underscored the urgency for transparency, accountability, and the restoration of public trust in Nigeria’s institutions. Analysts note that decisive action in this case could signal a renewed commitment to equitable enforcement of the law and help curb systemic corruption that undermines national development.
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