Lawyers Demand Probe of Mele Kyari Over $4bn Refineries Spending
A coalition of lawyers under the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law has petitioned the Minister of Finance, demanding a judicial inquiry into the $4 billion reportedly spent under former NNPCL chief Mele Kyari on refinery repairs.
Led by Barrister Benjamin Theophilus, the group alleged massive corruption, inflated project costs, tax evasion, and crude oil revenue mismanagement during Kyari’s tenure. They cited proposals to repair the three refineries for $1 billion, contrasting it with Kyari’s $4 billion expenditure, with little operational output.
The petition also flagged alleged fraud in the AKK Pipeline Project, crude-backed loans totaling over $21 billion, and fuel subsidy irregularities. The group insisted on a full recovery of misappropriated funds and urged collaboration with FIRS to investigate tax violations.
They demanded the immediate constitution of a judicial commission, led by a former Supreme Court justice, to probe NNPCL’s activities over the past five years.
