The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has acknowledged receipt of a petition filed against the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari. The petition, submitted by a coalition of legal practitioners and civil society groups, accuses the ex-NNPCL chief of financial misconduct and abuse of office.
This development follows a series of demonstrations earlier in the week. On Tuesday, a group known as “Concerned Citizens Against Corruption” protested at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, demanding a thorough investigation into Kyari’s tenure and the corporation’s activities over the past five years.
The following day, another protest led by the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law saw lawyers submit a petition to the Attorney General of the Federation, urging for Kyari’s arrest and prosecution over alleged corruption.
Continuing their campaign, the same group on Friday submitted a detailed petition to the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja. The commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, who received the document on behalf of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, assured the petitioners that the allegations would be fully addressed.
The petition, spearheaded by Asika Raymond, accuses Kyari of gross financial misconduct between July 2019 and February 2025. The allegations include inflated refinery rehabilitation costs, tax evasion, and diversion of public funds in collusion with contractors and consultants.
One focal point was the Port Harcourt Refinery project, where $1.5 billion was reportedly spent, far exceeding the initial estimate of $1 billion for the rehabilitation of three refineries. Petitioners raised red flags over the lack of accountability in disbursing funds to contractors.
Additional claims involve irregularities in crude oil allocations disguised as “pipeline security” arrangements involving 80,000 barrels per day, and questionable transactions tied to the $5 billion AKK Gas Pipeline Project.
The petition also highlighted concerns over fuel subsidy fraud, especially during the global COVID-19 lockdown, when fuel imports by NNPCL reportedly surged. Furthermore, the petition questioned the structure and transparency of $21.565 billion worth of crude-backed loans secured by NNPCL since 2019, which allegedly favored international traders over Nigeria’s interests.
Allegations also include massive, undocumented spending on oil exploration projects with no clear economic returns.
The petitioners called on the EFCC to conduct a forensic audit of all consultant and contractor payments between 2019 and 2025, trace and recover diverted funds, and partner with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to investigate potential cases of tax evasion linked to Kyari’s tenure.
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