NNPCL: Protesters Retract Corruption Allegations Against Mele Kyari
A coalition of civil society organisations seeking the investigation of a former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, has withdrawn its allegations.
Protesters who had previously accused Kyari of corruption have officially retracted their claims, attributing the misinformation to a misleading statement by the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese.
The group, Concerned Citizens Against Corruption, last week led a protest at the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to demand Kyari’s prosecution.
The coalition lamented that despite the dismissal of Kyari and the entire NNPCL board by President Bola Tinubu on April 2, 2025, no steps have been taken to investigate the alleged corrupt practices under the former GCEO’s leadership.
But addressing a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, convener of the CCAC, Kabir Matazu, admitted that its April 23 protest at the Federal Ministry of Justice was hasty, premature, and lacking in facts.
He claimed that the earlier decision by the group to launch a nationwide protest and demand the probe of Kyari was driven by a limited understanding of the strategic intents and works of the NNPC as a limited liability company.
However, he noted that having consulted widely and reviewed the facts, “We are convinced that Kyari acted within the scope of his responsibilities and in accordance with due process.”
He added, “As responsible corporate citizens, we and all our Civil Society partners who organised a protest on 23rd April 2025 against Mallam Mele Kyari have taken the hard decision of admitting that our earlier decision to launch a nationwide protest and demand the probe of the ex-NNPCL boss was driven by our limited understanding of the strategic intents and works of the NNPC as a limited liability company under the leadership of Mele Kyari.
“Our action was therefore hasty, premature and lacking in facts. Despite our constructive and patriotic intentions, which were aimed at fostering accountability and transparency in governance, we were misled by those we trusted to provide us with the basic facts. Particularly, Hon. Philip Agbese provided ill-conceived and misguided information to our group. Indeed, no amount of apology will compensate for the damage caused by our admissible errors and omissions.
“It is highly regrettable that, despite our best efforts, we were dragged unknowingly into the allegation about a crude deal with Matrix Energy by individuals with unpatriotic intentions. “We admit in humility that it is statutory for NNPCL, whether under Kyari or the new management, to enter into business agreements.
“There is nothing illegal about what the company did under Mallam Mele Kyari, as we were erroneously made to believe. NNPCL is sanctioned at the highest authorities to enter into such deals, and if there are issues, they will be handled appropriately in close coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum.”
The group further praised Kyari’s leadership during his time at NNPCL, noting his role in the transformation of the organisation, the unbundling of the company, the return to profitability, and efforts to revive Nigeria’s long-dormant refineries.
“Mr Mele Kyari, with accumulated years of professional expertise, also supervised and coordinated transformation efforts that led to the take-off of local refining, including giving all support thereto.
“The revival of Nigeria’s decades-long moribund local public refineries is all traceable to his selfless and professional wit. That record cannot be twisted, and we did not set out to twist it, except that we were misled,” it said.
The group stated further that the position of credible labour unions and interest groups in the petroleum sector, such as the Trade Union Congress, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, clearly showed that it acted out of ignorance.
He said, “Whereas accountability is the watchword of public service, we have now come to the realization that we acted without due diligence and alone, as all stakeholders have vehemently refuted our claims with hard facts. Let it be known that we are retracting our petition and position prior stated at the protest. We are not condoning corruption but simply acknowledging that an incorruptible man was targeted wrongly, and we apologise.
“We celebrate the fact that under Kyari, Nigeria battled oil theft to a standstill, moving crude production from less than one million barrels per day to about 2 million barrels per day. Again, after careful thought and with the progress made in the petroleum sector so far under the current administration, we have concluded that, from professional information, the amount of money spent on the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s ailing refineries was not too much but quite considerate.
“The fact that these refineries are working at almost full capacity has weakened our position the more and it will be grossly unpatriotic to continue to hold onto such misleading narratives as that will affect our reputation as fair umpires and watchdogs of the society.
“Therefore, we call on all Nigerians, especially those who believed our misinformed position that our plan and action were unjustified, and we hereby denounce our actions and retract the misguided allegations. This should in no way mean that we are backtracking on our core mandate and mission but to strengthen our position as a credible, reliable and dependable voice in the Nigerian polity. We shall be more scrupulous in our subsequent outings.”
When contacted on Thursday, the spokesperson for the House of Representatives explained that the information shared was intended to promote accountability and transparency in public office.
He emphasised that initiating a probe or inquiry should not be seen as an indictment, but rather as a constructive process that allows public officials to explain their stewardship—a healthy exercise in democratic governance.
He also questioned the timing and motivations behind the protesters’ retraction.
Agbese, speaking in an interview on Thursday, said, “As a patron of several civil societies, I believe it’s essential to promote accountability and transparency in public office. A probe or inquiry provides an opportunity for public officials to account for their stewardship, and it’s a healthy exercise in good governance. However, I find it concerning that certain individuals might be attempting to compromise CSOs to influence their judgments. It’s crucial that we remain vigilant and committed to our core values.
“Regarding the recent retraction of allegations against Mele Kyari, I question the motivations behind it. If someone within the NNPCL is using company funds to orchestrate publicity stunts, the current leadership must take swift action to address this issue. Ultimately, the key issues raised earlier still need to be addressed.
“Have the pertinent questions been answered? Transparency and accountability are essential in public office, and we must ensure that these values are upheld. Let’s prioritise fact-based discourse and avoid being swayed by misinformation or ulterior motives. By doing so, we can promote a culture of accountability and transparency that benefits everyone.”
