The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has pledged to investigate the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, following increasing public outcry.
The commitment was conveyed on Wednesday by Winifred Adekunle, Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Justice, while addressing protesting lawyers at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. The lawyers had marched to submit a petition demanding Kyari’s immediate probe and arrest.
This marked the second consecutive day of protests at the AGF’s office. On Tuesday, a civil society group, Concerned Citizens Against Corruption, had also demonstrated, calling for a full investigation into Kyari’s financial conduct during his tenure.
Adekunle assured the protesters that their petition would be promptly addressed. “There will be a response, and the issues raised will be taken seriously,” she said, emphasizing the AGF’s commitment to justice and transparency.
The latest petition, submitted by the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, a coalition of legal professionals, was dated April 23, 2025. It was signed by the group’s Convener, Emmanuel Agada, and National Secretary, Jonathan Uchendu. The petition accused Kyari of running the NNPCL like a “racket” that benefited friends and associates, while criticizing the government’s delay in investigating him despite his removal from office under public pressure.
The group highlighted serious allegations of financial mismanagement, particularly concerning the rehabilitation of government-owned refineries. They questioned the legitimacy of a $400 million investment by Matrix Energy Limited in the Port Harcourt Refinery, despite the Federal Executive Council's earlier approval of $1.5 billion for the same project.
The petition further alleged that NNPCL owes Matrix Energy $2 billion, a debt reportedly being repaid through daily crude oil allocations of 80,000 barrels. The lawyers demanded clarity on who negotiated the deal, why crude oil was used to service the debt, and why the public was kept in the dark.
They called on the AGF to:
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Review all contracts and agreements made under Kyari’s leadership.
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Investigate the crude-for-loan transactions.
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Recover misappropriated funds.
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Identify individuals responsible for financial irregularities.
The petition also urged the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate refinery rehabilitation projects under Kyari and the dismissed NNPCL board.
The group stressed that a comprehensive, transparent investigation would ensure accountability, deter future corruption, and restore public trust. They reiterated their readiness to support the AGF in carrying out a thorough probe.
