A coalition of lawyers and civil society groups has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demanding prompt investigation and prosecution of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over alleged corruption.
The petition follows recent protests by the group Concerned Citizens Against Corruption, who stormed the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, calling for a comprehensive probe into Kyari’s tenure and NNPCL’s financial dealings over the past five years.
Subsequently, the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, a group of lawyers, marched to the Attorney General of the Federation’s office, submitting a petition calling for Kyari’s investigation, arrest, and prosecution for alleged corruption and misappropriation during his leadership of NNPCL.
On Friday, the lawyers fulfilled their promise and submitted a similar petition to the EFCC. The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, received the petition on behalf of the commission’s chairman, Ola Olukoyede, at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
Oyewale assured the petitioners that the commission would scrutinize and address the issues raised. “The issues raised in the petition will be looked into and addressed,” he stated.
The petition accuses Kyari of orchestrating monumental fraud, tax evasion, economic sabotage, and abuse of office throughout his tenure from July 2019 to February 2025.
Led by Asika Raymond, the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law allege that Kyari colluded with consultants and contractors to inflate the costs of refinery rehabilitation projects and evade taxes owed to the federal government.
The Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation serves as a key example, with the group claiming that NNPCL, under Kyari’s direction, spent $1.5 billion despite an initial $1 billion estimate for the overhaul of three refineries.
The petitioners questioned the transparency and accountability of payments disbursed to consultants and contractors involved in these projects.
Further accusations include the diversion of crude oil allocations and suspicious financial transactions disguised as “pipeline security” at an inflated rate of 80,000 barrels per day, lacking any transparent process or accountability mechanisms.
The $5 billion AKK Gas Pipeline Project also faces scrutiny, with the petition alleging irregularities in contract awards and execution, despite significant budgetary allocations and foreign financing.
Additionally, the petition raises alarm over fuel subsidy fraud, citing inflated import figures and false claims.
The lawyers also questioned the rationale and outcomes of NNPCL’s crude-backed loans, which totaled $21.565 billion since 2019, suggesting a disadvantageous structure for Nigeria by ceding potential gains from international crude oil trading to traders.
“Crude oil allocations were diverted, and financial transactions were carried out under the guise of ‘pipeline security’ at a suspicious rate of 80,000 barrels per day, with no transparent process or accountability mechanism,” the petition stated.
“The AKK Pipeline Project, initially valued at $5 billion, has been riddled with irregularities in the award and execution of contracts. Despite several budgetary provisions and foreign financing arrangements, there is little physical progress or transparency in fund utilisation.”
The petition further highlighted the alleged inflation of petroleum product imports by NNPCL during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a period when global fuel consumption declined.
“Under Mele Kyari, NNPCL took various crude-backed loans, amounting to $21.565 billion since 2019. Aside from mortgaging future production, the structure of these loans disadvantaged Nigeria as the upside from trading Nigeria’s crude in the international market was ceded to traders.”
The lawyers also pointed to alleged massive and poorly documented spending on oil exploration activities under Kyari’s watch, purportedly running into billions of Naira without proper feasibility studies or demonstrable economic returns.
The group of lawyers urged the EFCC to launch a comprehensive investigation into Kyari’s activities, conduct a forensic audit of all payments made to consultants and contractors between 2019 and 2025, recover any misappropriated public funds, and collaborate with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to investigate suspected tax evasion.
(PR Nigeria)
CORRUPTION: Kyari Dragged to EFCC Over $21bn Fraud During Tenure as NNPCL Boss
A coalition of lawyers and civil society groups has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demanding prompt investigation and prosecution of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over alleged corruption.
The petition follows recent protests by the group Concerned Citizens Against Corruption, who stormed the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, calling for a comprehensive probe into Kyari’s tenure and NNPCL’s financial dealings over the past five years.
Subsequently, the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, a group of lawyers, marched to the Attorney General of the Federation’s office, submitting a petition calling for Kyari’s investigation, arrest, and prosecution for alleged corruption and misappropriation during his leadership of NNPCL.
On Friday, the lawyers fulfilled their promise and submitted a similar petition to the EFCC. The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, received the petition on behalf of the commission’s chairman, Ola Olukoyede, at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
Oyewale assured the petitioners that the commission would scrutinize and address the issues raised. “The issues raised in the petition will be looked into and addressed,” he stated.
The petition accuses Kyari of orchestrating monumental fraud, tax evasion, economic sabotage, and abuse of office throughout his tenure from July 2019 to February 2025.
Led by Asika Raymond, the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law allege that Kyari colluded with consultants and contractors to inflate the costs of refinery rehabilitation projects and evade taxes owed to the federal government.
The Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation serves as a key example, with the group claiming that NNPCL, under Kyari’s direction, spent $1.5 billion despite an initial $1 billion estimate for the overhaul of three refineries.
The petitioners questioned the transparency and accountability of payments disbursed to consultants and contractors involved in these projects.
Further accusations include the diversion of crude oil allocations and suspicious financial transactions disguised as “pipeline security” at an inflated rate of 80,000 barrels per day, lacking any transparent process or accountability mechanisms.
The $5 billion AKK Gas Pipeline Project also faces scrutiny, with the petition alleging irregularities in contract awards and execution, despite significant budgetary allocations and foreign financing.
Additionally, the petition raises alarm over fuel subsidy fraud, citing inflated import figures and false claims.
The lawyers also questioned the rationale and outcomes of NNPCL’s crude-backed loans, which totaled $21.565 billion since 2019, suggesting a disadvantageous structure for Nigeria by ceding potential gains from international crude oil trading to traders.
“Crude oil allocations were diverted, and financial transactions were carried out under the guise of ‘pipeline security’ at a suspicious rate of 80,000 barrels per day, with no transparent process or accountability mechanism,” the petition stated.
“The AKK Pipeline Project, initially valued at $5 billion, has been riddled with irregularities in the award and execution of contracts. Despite several budgetary provisions and foreign financing arrangements, there is little physical progress or transparency in fund utilisation.”
The petition further highlighted the alleged inflation of petroleum product imports by NNPCL during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a period when global fuel consumption declined.
“Under Mele Kyari, NNPCL took various crude-backed loans, amounting to $21.565 billion since 2019. Aside from mortgaging future production, the structure of these loans disadvantaged Nigeria as the upside from trading Nigeria’s crude in the international market was ceded to traders.”
The lawyers also pointed to alleged massive and poorly documented spending on oil exploration activities under Kyari’s watch, purportedly running into billions of Naira without proper feasibility studies or demonstrable economic returns.
The group of lawyers urged the EFCC to launch a comprehensive investigation into Kyari’s activities, conduct a forensic audit of all payments made to consultants and contractors between 2019 and 2025, recover any misappropriated public funds, and collaborate with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to investigate suspected tax evasion.
(PR Nigeria)
LEAVE A REPLY
A coalition of lawyers and civil society groups has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demanding prompt investigation and prosecution of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over alleged corruption.
The petition follows recent protests by the group Concerned Citizens Against Corruption, who stormed the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, calling for a comprehensive probe into Kyari’s tenure and NNPCL’s financial dealings over the past five years.
Subsequently, the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, a group of lawyers, marched to the Attorney General of the Federation’s office, submitting a petition calling for Kyari’s investigation, arrest, and prosecution for alleged corruption and misappropriation during his leadership of NNPCL.
On Friday, the lawyers fulfilled their promise and submitted a similar petition to the EFCC. The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, received the petition on behalf of the commission’s chairman, Ola Olukoyede, at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
Oyewale assured the petitioners that the commission would scrutinize and address the issues raised. “The issues raised in the petition will be looked into and addressed,” he stated.
The petition accuses Kyari of orchestrating monumental fraud, tax evasion, economic sabotage, and abuse of office throughout his tenure from July 2019 to February 2025.
Led by Asika Raymond, the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law allege that Kyari colluded with consultants and contractors to inflate the costs of refinery rehabilitation projects and evade taxes owed to the federal government.
The Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation serves as a key example, with the group claiming that NNPCL, under Kyari’s direction, spent $1.5 billion despite an initial $1 billion estimate for the overhaul of three refineries.
The petitioners questioned the transparency and accountability of payments disbursed to consultants and contractors involved in these projects.
Further accusations include the diversion of crude oil allocations and suspicious financial transactions disguised as “pipeline security” at an inflated rate of 80,000 barrels per day, lacking any transparent process or accountability mechanisms.
The $5 billion AKK Gas Pipeline Project also faces scrutiny, with the petition alleging irregularities in contract awards and execution, despite significant budgetary allocations and foreign financing.
Additionally, the petition raises alarm over fuel subsidy fraud, citing inflated import figures and false claims.
The lawyers also questioned the rationale and outcomes of NNPCL’s crude-backed loans, which totaled $21.565 billion since 2019, suggesting a disadvantageous structure for Nigeria by ceding potential gains from international crude oil trading to traders.
“Crude oil allocations were diverted, and financial transactions were carried out under the guise of ‘pipeline security’ at a suspicious rate of 80,000 barrels per day, with no transparent process or accountability mechanism,” the petition stated.
“The AKK Pipeline Project, initially valued at $5 billion, has been riddled with irregularities in the award and execution of contracts. Despite several budgetary provisions and foreign financing arrangements, there is little physical progress or transparency in fund utilisation.”
The petition further highlighted the alleged inflation of petroleum product imports by NNPCL during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a period when global fuel consumption declined.
“Under Mele Kyari, NNPCL took various crude-backed loans, amounting to $21.565 billion since 2019. Aside from mortgaging future production, the structure of these loans disadvantaged Nigeria as the upside from trading Nigeria’s crude in the international market was ceded to traders.”
The lawyers also pointed to alleged massive and poorly documented spending on oil exploration activities under Kyari’s watch, purportedly running into billions of Naira without proper feasibility studies or demonstrable economic returns.
The group of lawyers urged the EFCC to launch a comprehensive investigation into Kyari’s activities, conduct a forensic audit of all payments made to consultants and contractors between 2019 and 2025, recover any misappropriated public funds, and collaborate with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to investigate suspected tax evasion.
(PR Nigeria)
LEAVE A REPLY
A coalition of lawyers and civil society groups has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demanding prompt investigation and prosecution of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over alleged corruption.
The petition follows recent protests by the group Concerned Citizens Against Corruption, who stormed the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, calling for a comprehensive probe into Kyari’s tenure and NNPCL’s financial dealings over the past five years.
Subsequently, the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, a group of lawyers, marched to the Attorney General of the Federation’s office, submitting a petition calling for Kyari’s investigation, arrest, and prosecution for alleged corruption and misappropriation during his leadership of NNPCL.
On Friday, the lawyers fulfilled their promise and submitted a similar petition to the EFCC. The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, received the petition on behalf of the commission’s chairman, Ola Olukoyede, at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
Oyewale assured the petitioners that the commission would scrutinize and address the issues raised. “The issues raised in the petition will be looked into and addressed,” he stated.
The petition accuses Kyari of orchestrating monumental fraud, tax evasion, economic sabotage, and abuse of office throughout his tenure from July 2019 to February 2025.
Led by Asika Raymond, the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law allege that Kyari colluded with consultants and contractors to inflate the costs of refinery rehabilitation projects and evade taxes owed to the federal government.
The Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation serves as a key example, with the group claiming that NNPCL, under Kyari’s direction, spent $1.5 billion despite an initial $1 billion estimate for the overhaul of three refineries.
The petitioners questioned the transparency and accountability of payments disbursed to consultants and contractors involved in these projects.
Further accusations include the diversion of crude oil allocations and suspicious financial transactions disguised as “pipeline security” at an inflated rate of 80,000 barrels per day, lacking any transparent process or accountability mechanisms.
The $5 billion AKK Gas Pipeline Project also faces scrutiny, with the petition alleging irregularities in contract awards and execution, despite significant budgetary allocations and foreign financing.
Additionally, the petition raises alarm over fuel subsidy fraud, citing inflated import figures and false claims.
The lawyers also questioned the rationale and outcomes of NNPCL’s crude-backed loans, which totaled $21.565 billion since 2019, suggesting a disadvantageous structure for Nigeria by ceding potential gains from international crude oil trading to traders.
“Crude oil allocations were diverted, and financial transactions were carried out under the guise of ‘pipeline security’ at a suspicious rate of 80,000 barrels per day, with no transparent process or accountability mechanism,” the petition stated.
“The AKK Pipeline Project, initially valued at $5 billion, has been riddled with irregularities in the award and execution of contracts. Despite several budgetary provisions and foreign financing arrangements, there is little physical progress or transparency in fund utilisation.”
The petition further highlighted the alleged inflation of petroleum product imports by NNPCL during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a period when global fuel consumption declined.
“Under Mele Kyari, NNPCL took various crude-backed loans, amounting to $21.565 billion since 2019. Aside from mortgaging future production, the structure of these loans disadvantaged Nigeria as the upside from trading Nigeria’s crude in the international market was ceded to traders.”
The lawyers also pointed to alleged massive and poorly documented spending on oil exploration activities under Kyari’s watch, purportedly running into billions of Naira without proper feasibility studies or demonstrable economic returns.
The group of lawyers urged the EFCC to launch a comprehensive investigation into Kyari’s activities, conduct a forensic audit of all payments made to consultants and contractors between 2019 and 2025, recover any misappropriated public funds, and collaborate with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to investigate suspected tax evasion.
(PR Nigeria)