A wave of protest swept through the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja on Tuesday, as concerned citizens stormed the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, calling for a full-scale probe into the administration of former NNPCL boss, Mele Kyari.
The protest, spearheaded by a civic group known as Concerned Citizens Against Corruption (CCAC), was aimed at pushing the Federal Government to investigate what they described as “years of questionable transactions” under Kyari’s leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Led by Comrade Kabir Matazu, the group expressed dismay over the lack of action since President Bola Tinubu dissolved the NNPCL board and removed Kyari from office on April 2, 2025. “It is not enough to remove the leadership,” Matazu said. “Nigerians demand transparency and accountability.”
Among the major issues raised was the alleged mismanagement of funds meant for the rehabilitation and restreaming of Nigeria’s government-owned refineries. The group claimed billions of dollars had been pumped into the projects without any clear or visible results. One particularly troubling concern was the claim that Matrix Energy Limited invested $400 million into the Port Harcourt Refinery while the Federal Executive Council had already approved $1.5 billion for its repairs.
Even more alarming, according to the CCAC, is the report that NNPCL now owes Matrix Energy over $2 billion—a debt allegedly being serviced through daily crude oil allocations rather than standard financial channels.
“Why is a public debt of this magnitude being settled in such an opaque manner?” the group asked in a strongly worded petition submitted to the AGF’s office. “Who negotiated these deals, and why have Nigerians been kept in the dark?”
The CCAC insisted that a thorough judicial review of all contracts and financial agreements made under Kyari’s tenure is necessary. They emphasized that unraveling the details of these deals could help the government recover mismanaged public funds—crucial in a time of economic hardship.
“We’re not just looking back. Investigating Kyari’s era will help prevent future administrations from repeating the same mistakes,” Matazu noted.
The group further urged the Federal Government to set up a commission of inquiry to scrutinize the refinery repair contracts and expose any wrongdoing. Their message was clear: accountability must not stop at removal from office.
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