Hundreds of young Nigerian professionals on Wednesday stormed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Abuja, demanding the deportation of Mele Kyari, former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
The protesters, operating under the umbrella of Young Professionals Forum (YPF), insist Kyari must return to Nigeria to face questioning regarding alleged corruption during his tenure at the helm of the national oil company.
Barrister Sambari Benjamin, speaking on behalf of the demonstrators, highlighted that Kyari's alleged corrupt practices have significantly impacted Nigeria's economy, particularly the energy sector.
"We believe that Mele Kyari's actions have brought shame to our nation and our people. His alleged corrupt practices have had devastating consequences for our economy and our people. We cannot stand idly by while those in positions of authority abuse their power for personal gain," Benjamin stated.
According to the protesters, Kyari's leadership was characterized by deliberate obstruction of local refining initiatives, disregard for national interests, and personal enrichment. They further alleged that his actions as NNPCL boss had crippled national productivity, drained Nigeria's foreign exchange reserves, and increased consumer vulnerability to adulterated petroleum products.
The YPF urged the UAE government to refuse Kyari residency and asylum, while also requesting that he be blacklisted to prevent his escape from justice.
"We urge the UAE government to refuse Kyari residency, asylum, and to blacklist him to prevent his escape from justice. The Nigerian people demand accountability and transparency, and we will not rest until justice is served," Benjamin emphasized.
The group stressed that granting Kyari asylum would undermine the rule of law and establish a dangerous precedent for other public officials who might seek to evade accountability by fleeing abroad.
"The implications of granting haven—whether directly or inadvertently—to Kyari are manifold. Firstly, it would constitute a direct affront to the Nigerian judicial process, which is on the verge of initiating investigations and possible prosecutions against him and his accomplices," Benjamin added.
"More devastatingly, this would obviously send an unfortunate message to the people of Nigeria, most especially the youth and emerging professionals— that accountability is optional, that impunity is mobile, as that justice can be conveniently overridden or circumvented by the elites who can afford the financial prize."
The protest comes amid growing concerns about accountability in Nigeria's oil sector, with recent reports indicating that the NNPCL allegedly failed to remit N500 billion to the Federation Account in 2024, according to the World Bank.
