By Ben Adoga, Cajetan Mmuta, Anthony Otaru, and David Lawani
The storm swirling around Mele Kyari, immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has intensified, with civil society groups, lawyers, and analysts demanding his prosecution over alleged multi-billion-dollar fraud.
The calls follow last week’s decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja to freeze four Jaiz Bank accounts linked to Kyari after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) traced suspicious transactions to him.
Sources allege that ₦80bn was discovered in one of the accounts, alongside other inflows tied to subsidy fraud and opaque refinery maintenance contracts.
Already, the case has become a political flashpoint.
Critics say how President Bola Tinubu’s government handles the matter will be seen as a test of its anti-corruption credentials.
“This is about more than frozen accounts. It is a credibility test for the Tinubu government. If Kyari is allowed to slip away or the case fizzles, public trust will take another blow,” warned Dr Hassan Sule, a political analyst.
*Lawyers, CSOs, analysts caution govt against bungling of fraud trial
Civil society organisations are leading the charge for accountability. Members of the Coalition of Nigerian Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) insist that Nigerians must not be subjected to another protracted saga like that of former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, whose extradition case has dragged on since 2017.
“We will not allow this case to go the way of Diezani. I am not saying he is guilty, but an open and transparent investigation must be conducted and all those guilty made to face the law,” said Ameh Aluda, a coalition member.
Aluda pointed to missing funds: “$1.56 million meant for the Port Harcourt refinery was not accounted for; $740.6 million for the Kaduna refinery, and $6.66 million for the Warri refinery disappeared. We can’t fold our arms and allow such criminality to go unchecked.”
Yusuf Amedu of Citizens Rights Initiative added, “Those entrusted with our commonwealth plunder it without consequences. Diezani’s case is still lingering. Only God knows how long Kyari’s own will drag if we don’t act now.”
Chairman of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi, said the scandal reflects Nigeria’s deeper governance rot.
“Nigeria is badly governed. You don’t expect an armed robber who becomes governor to turn a state into a cradle of saints,” he said.
He warned that reckless borrowing and mismanagement have worsened the crisis:
“Government survives on loans that are squandered on frivolities. Who will pay them back? The lenders themselves are complicit.”
Umeagbalasi stressed that the law is clear, “Nigeria has over 22 anti-corruption laws and the EFCC, Police, DSS, and Customs all have powers to act. The law should take its course, and Mele Kyari must not be spared.”
Prominent lawyers say the matter has already reached the threshold for prosecution.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof Mike Ozekhome, accused the government of double standards, “If our corruption has not become legendary and shamelessly condoned and even canonised, how come Kyari is not being tried even after the Senate itself found that ₦210 trillion is unaccounted for?
“With Nigeria’s ₦54.9 trillion budget for 2025, it would take four years to reach that figure. What manner of country hugs corruption with love and kisses?”
Another lawyer, Kingsley Okorie, described the NNPCL under Kyari as a cesspool of corruption: “The NNPCL has become a national disaster and colossal burden on the economy. It is a conduit pipe to drain us dry. I am disappointed by the sheer profligacy of Kyari. He must have his day in court.”
Some activists warned that if Kyari is abroad, the Tinubu government must secure his extradition.
“Whether in Abuja or London, justice must follow him. Extradition is not a threat; it is a guarantee that no Nigerian public official can hide from accountability,” said Amina Yusuf, a civic campaigner.
Her view reflects growing fears that Kyari could flee, given precedents in the oil sector. The coalition of civil groups urged the government to clarify his whereabouts.
Scepticism runs deep among scholars who fear the case could be politicised.
Dr. Sam Amadi, Associate Professor of Law at Baze University, said, “Corruption cases at the NNPCL should be handled without fear or favour. Unfortunately, the current government is not serious about fighting corruption. Arrests are often for political expediency. I don’t think anything good will come out of this case.”
Similarly, Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director of the Centre for Social Justice, called for recovery of stolen funds, “Kyari and his collaborators should be tried and sentenced to jail for defrauding the nation. He took billions under the guise of refinery rehabilitation, yet the refineries remain dead. His accounts and those of his cronies should be traced and recovered.”
Across social media, Nigerians have linked today’s hardships — soaring fuel prices, inflation, and food insecurity — to years of alleged mismanagement under Kyari’s watch. For many, he has become a symbol of contradictions in Nigeria’s oil governance: lauded for spearheading reforms like the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), yet accused of perpetuating subsidy fraud and opacity.
Dayo Magaji of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) said the NNPCL’s secrecy must end, “If so much was spent on refineries and none is working near capacity, then much more is hidden. The NNPCL must undergo a comprehensive audit and overhaul.”
The EFCC is reportedly investigating 14 NNPCL officials alongside Kyari over the alleged diversion of $2.896 billion meant for refinery turnaround maintenance.
Despite these funds, none of Nigeria’s three state-owned refineries, in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, operate at near capacity.
Analysts argue that these failures contributed directly to Nigeria’s reliance on costly fuel imports, which in turn drove subsidy payments and ballooning debts.
The Public Accounts Committee of the Senate has also raised red flags, noting that as much as ₦210 trillion in oil revenues remains unaccounted for during Kyari’s tenure.
For President Bola Tinubu, who campaigned on promises of renewed hope and transparency, the Kyari saga is being closely watched as a test case. Critics say allowing the matter to drag on or collapse would send a signal that the old culture of impunity remains intact.
“This is no longer about Kyari alone,” said Hassan Sule, the political analyst. “It is about whether the Tinubu administration truly wants to end the culture of oil-sector impunity or simply sacrifice a few officials for optics.”
The EFCC case resumes September 23, with Nigerians keenly watching whether the government will move decisively or let the matter languish.
Civil groups are already threatening mass action if the case is watered down. For many, the Kyari probe represents a long-awaited opportunity to reset Nigeria’s oil governance.
As Eze Onyekpere put it, “We need to recover the monies. Kyari must be tried and sentenced, not just for justice, but to serve as a deterrent. Otherwise, the fraud will continue, and the people will keep paying the price.”
