Protesters holding placards and banners gathered outside the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja on Tuesday, calling for immediate action against Mele Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The demonstration, led by the Concerned Citizens Against Corruption (CCAC), urged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to initiate an in-depth investigation into NNPCL’s financial dealings during Kyari’s tenure.
Kabir Matazu, who leads the advocacy group, told reporters that the protest was driven by what he described as growing frustration over the government’s silence following the dismissal of Kyari and the NNPCL board by President Bola Tinubu on April 2, 2025.
He noted that while their removal was a welcome step, it would be incomplete without a full probe into their activities.
A major point raised by the group is the controversial state of Nigeria’s refineries. Billions of dollars were reportedly allocated for repairs and recommissioning, yet there has been little to show for it. The group questioned how such a massive investment could be made without clear results or accountability.
Matazu drew attention to what he called a “troubling” debt of over $2 billion allegedly owed by the NNPCL to Matrix Energy Limited. According to him, the company is being repaid not with cash, but with crude oil, raising serious concerns about the transparency and legality of such an arrangement.
“It is on record that the removal of the erstwhile leadership of the NNPCL was widely applauded by Nigerians, especially groups like ours that have been at the forefront of demanding accountability and transparency in the management of institutions,” Matazu said.
He added, “In addition to the billions of dollars claimed to have been spent on refinery repairs, Kyari’s administration also alleged that Matrix Energy Limited invested $400 million in rehabilitating the Port Harcourt Refinery, even though the Federal Executive Council approved $1.5 billion for the same facility.”
The group is asking for all contracts and agreements signed under Kyari’s leadership to be reviewed. They argue that only a full investigation can reveal whether public funds were misused and help recover any stolen resources.
“This situation raises urgent questions: Why and how is the Federal Government, through the NNPCL, indebted to Matrix Energy for $2 billion? Why is the debt being serviced with daily crude oil supplies? Who were the parties involved in negotiating this deal? Why are Nigerians being kept in the dark about these agreements,” the group asked.
The CCAC believes that looking into these issues will not only shed light on past mistakes but also prevent a repeat under the current leadership. They called on the AGF to set up a commission of inquiry and commit to transparency going forward.
