The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has assured Nigerians that former NNPCL boss, Mele Kyari, will be investigated following growing protests and public demands for accountability.
The promise came on Wednesday through Winifred Adekunle, a Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Justice. She spoke while receiving a petition from a group of protesting lawyers at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
“This petition will receive immediate attention,” Adekunle told the protesters. “There will be a response, and the issues raised will be addressed appropriately. Rest assured, the Attorney General and Solicitor General are people you can count on. Your demands will not be ignored.”
The protesters, under the group ‘Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law’, submitted a petition dated April 23, 2025, asking for a full investigation into Kyari’s activities during his time as Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
The petition, signed by the group’s Convener, Emmanuel Agada, and National Secretary, Jonathan Uchendu, accused Kyari of mismanaging funds and operating the NNPCL in secrecy. They described his leadership as “a racket run in favour of friends and associates.”
This marks the second protest in two days. On Tuesday, another group, *Concerned Citizens Against Corruption*, also held a demonstration, calling for Kyari’s arrest and investigation.
One of the major concerns raised in the petition was the NNPCL’s crude-for-loan deal, in which Matrix Energy Limited allegedly received 80,000 barrels of crude oil daily to service a $2 billion debt.
The group questioned why such a huge debt existed, why it was being repaid with crude oil, and who approved the deal. They also raised suspicions over a $400 million investment by Matrix Energy in the Port Harcourt Refinery, despite a previous government approval of $1.5 billion for the same project.
The lawyers demanded a thorough review of all agreements made during Kyari’s time in office. They urged the Attorney General to investigate the financial records, recover stolen funds, and bring those responsible to justice.
They also called for a commission of inquiry to look into how the NNPCL handled refinery rehabilitation projects under Kyari and the dissolved board.
The group said a proper investigation would help promote transparency, punish wrongdoers, and stop similar misconduct from happening in the future.
They also pledged to support the Ministry of Justice in carrying out a full and fair investigation.
