‘Mele Kyari record in NNPCL one of most transparent’
A group known as Lawyers in Defence of Democracy has said Mele Kyari’s record in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) as the Group Managing Director (GMD) and subsequently Group Chief Executive Officer is one of the most transparent, hence the alleged probe is intended to smear his image and discredit the enviable legacy he […]
Mele Kyari
A group known as Lawyers in Defence of Democracy has said Mele Kyari’s record in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) as the Group Managing Director (GMD) and subsequently Group Chief Executive Officer is one of the most transparent, hence the alleged probe is intended to smear his image and discredit the enviable legacy he left behind.
The legal practitioners through their Deputy National Coordinator Barr. Ndu Edede said this in reaction to the plan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of funds by former senior officials of NNPCL, including two former heads Mele Kyari and Abubakar Yar’Adua.
The Lawyers in Defence of Democracy said for someone who served the country diligently as the GMD and later the GCEO of NNPC as NNPC Limited from 2019 to 2025, Kyari deserved appreciation rather than witch hunt immediately he left office with indelible marks.
According to them, the former GMD/GCEO midwifed the Petroleum Industry Act which totally overhaul the company and the oil and gas sectors with far reaching reforms which the country is presently reaping the benefits, and also led the implementation of the fuel subsidy removal that is making funds available to the government.
They said it is to the credit of the immediate past NNPCL GCEO that oil production rised to about 2million barrels per day, moribund refineries were being resuscitated while the Dangote Refinery came on board, changing Nigeria’s petroleum sector’s narratives, adding that these records have never been achieved before.
“The Lawyers in Defence of Democracy have noted with consternation the reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched a probe into the alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of funds by former senior officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), including two former chief executives, Mele Kyari and Abubakar Yar’Adua.
“In the said letter addressed to the Group Managing Director, NNPC Towers, Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business District, Abuja, and dated 28 April which has gone viral, the EFCC formally requested documentation related to the ongoing probe. The letter, titled “Investigation Activities Request for Information”, referenced number CR:3000/EFCC/ABJ/HQ/SDC.2/NNPC/VOL.1/698, stated:
“The Commission is investigating a case of Abuse of Office and Misappropriation of Funds in which the under-listed officials of your organization featured.The listed 14 individuals involved in the investigation, include: Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua, Mele Kolo Kyari, Isiaka Abdulrazak, Umar Ajiya, Dikko Ahmed, Ibrahim Onoja, amongst others.
“However, we make bold to say that Kyari’s record in NNPCL as the Group Managing Director (GMD) and subsequently Group Chief Executive Officer(GCEO) is one of the most transparent, hence the alleged probe is intended to smear his image and discredit the enviable legacies he left behind.
“The former GMD/GCEO midwifed the Petroleum Industry Act which has ensured the total overhaul of the NNPC and the entire oil industry. Under his watch, oil production has risen to about 2
million barrels per day; moribund refineries are being resuscitated while the Dangote Refinery came on board, changing Nigeria’s petroleum sector’s narratives. These feats have never been achieved before.
“As Kyari himself said ‘he served Nigeria with the fear of God and is willing to account for his stewardship.’ While we stand with the former GMD/GCEO, we implored EFCC to circumspect about it’s planned probe in order not to be a sort of witch hunt of the someone who sacrificed his life- time, energy and comfort in service to the country.”