Tensions escalate at the AGF headquarters as legal practitioners demand swift action and transparency in the ongoing investigation.
On the 23rd of April 2025, more than 500 anti-corruption lawyers trooped to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation(AGF) at the Ministry of Justice in Abuja to seek the immediate probe of former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari.
The lawyers supported by the Guardians of Democracy and the Rule of Law, signified their intention to purge the Nation of the corruption eating through it beginning from the oil industry.
In a petition signed by the duo of Barrister Emmanuel Agada and Jonathan Uchendu, there was loud outcry aimed at the destructive the Mele Kyari-led leadership handled it itself as head of the NNPCL, they claimed that it was overseen with countless allegations of corruption originating from the smeary way he ran the organization.
The lawyers added the issue of the Government owned refinery, which has been clouded by non-stop controversy regarding rehabilitation and re-streaming of fund and still upon the billions of dollars spent, there is no clear and visible representation of what the money has been spent on as numbers fail to add up.
The petition highlighted the case of a oil firm, which allegedly invested $400 million in the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, even as the Federal Executive Council had approved $1.5 billion for the repairs of the same facility
The NNPCL, they alleged, is owing the firm more than $2 billion, with the debt being serviced through daily crude oil allocations to Matrix Energy that are not being paid for.
The lawyers demanded that the AGF review all agreements entered into by the NNPCL under Kyari’s administration, launch a fact-finding investigation into the questionable transactions, and institute a commission of inquiry into the NNPCL’s handling of the refineries’ repairs under Kyari.
The protesting lawyers vowed to continue their agitation until Kyari is brought to justice and the truth about the alleged corruption is uncovered.
The petition added: “The Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law strongly believe that getting to the root of this matter will help the Federal Government to account for how public resources were squandered on the controversial refineries’ repairs undertaken under the Kyari leadership.
“In view of the facts stated above, we request that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation to immediately review all agreements entered by the NNPCL under the Mele Kyari administration.
“An investigation into the questionable transactions would also point the government in the direction of what funds to recover and from whom, which is sorely needed now considering Nigeria’s economic condition.
“Furthermore, investigating all that transpired will set the stage for holding even the current leadership accountable while equally identifying potential pitfalls for those who are now in charge so that Nigeria is not caught in a loop of repeating the same mistakes.
“A fact-finding investigation be launched to ascertain how much the Federal Government has lost to such agreements and recommendations on concrete steps to recover identified funds. We demand for an immediate judicial review of all matters related thereto.
“The Guardians of Democracy And Rule of Law will appreciate it if the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation can escalate the issue to a point where the Federal Government institutes a commission of inquiry into NNPCL’s handling of the refineries’ repairs under Kyari and the sacked board. “
A deputy Director at the office of the AGF, Winifred Adekunle, who received the petition promised to deliver it to the Justice minister and assured them that prompt action will be taken.
For more information on the ongoing investigation, visit www.agf.gov.ng.
