A coalition of legal professionals under the banner of Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law has demanded the immediate probe, arrest, and prosecution of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over a controversial $2 billion crude-for-loan deal and several other alleged financial malpractices.
The group disclosed its plan to submit a formal petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, April 28, 2025. This petition follows an earlier one submitted to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, signaling an escalating legal and civil movement for accountability in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the convener of the group, Emmanuel Agada, and National Secretary, Jonathan Uchendu, accused Kyari of operating NNPCL as a personal enterprise serving vested interests. They alleged that under Kyari’s leadership, the corporation engaged in opaque dealings, particularly the controversial crude-for-loan arrangement that saw over 80,000 barrels of crude oil allegedly diverted daily to service a $2 billion debt owed to Matrix Energy Limited.
Central to the allegations is the claim that Matrix Energy Limited invested $400 million in the Port Harcourt Refinery despite a prior $1.5 billion approval by the Federal Executive Council for the same project. The group questioned why this redundant investment occurred, why it resulted in an additional $2 billion debt to the government, and how such a deal was negotiated without public transparency.
“We are asking critical questions: Who authorized this deal? What were the terms? Why is repayment being made with daily crude allocations instead of budgetary provisions? The Nigerian people deserve answers,” Agada said.
The lawyers called on the EFCC and AGF to launch a full-scale investigation into all financial dealings, agreements, and contracts approved during Kyari’s tenure from July 2019 to April 2025.
The coalition insists that this petition is not only about seeking justice for past wrongs but also about laying a foundation for future transparency in the oil and gas industry. They urged the government to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate all refinery rehabilitation projects across the country, many of which remain uncompleted despite hefty budgetary allocations.
They also demanded that the Federal Government quantify financial losses incurred under Kyari’s administration and publish a recovery strategy to reclaim misappropriated funds. “It is time we send a message that public office is a trust and not a license for impunity,” Uchendu added.
This marks the second consecutive day of public protest in front of the Ministry of Justice. On Tuesday, another advocacy group — Concerned Citizens Against Corruption — staged a similar protest demanding an audit of NNPCL’s operations over the past five years.
These coordinated civil actions come in the wake of Kyari’s removal from office by President Bola Tinubu on April 2, 2025. While the presidency has remained silent on the reason for his ouster, many view it as a response to mounting public pressure over allegations of mismanagement and shady deals at the national oil company.
Upon submission of the petition, the legal coalition was received by Deputy Director at the Ministry of Justice, Winifred Adekunle, who promised that the Attorney General would give the matter due attention.
“Your petition will be addressed. The Attorney General and Solicitor General are committed to upholding justice. Rest assured that no one is above the law,” Adekunle told the delegation.
The growing public and legal scrutiny of Kyari’s administration underscores increasing demands for fiscal accountability in Nigeria’s oil sector, often regarded as the cornerstone of the nation’s economy and a hotspot for corruption.
Analysts say the $2bn crude-for-loan scandal, if not addressed with transparency, could undermine the credibility of President Tinubu’s reform agenda in the energy sector. They argue that the case should set a precedent for future accountability in public office, especially in the management of national resources.
As calls for investigation mount, all eyes are now on the EFCC and the AGF’s office to demonstrate impartiality and ensure that justice is served without political interference.