A group of young professionals and activists staged a protest at the United States Embassy in Abuja on Friday, calling for a visa ban on Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari, the former Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The protesters, under the umbrella of the Young Professionals Forum of Nigeria, submitted a formal petition to US Ambassador Richard M. Mills Jr., urging the American government to deny Kyari entry into the United States while investigations into alleged corruption continue.

Barrister Sambari Benjamin, who convened the forum, emphasized the seriousness of the allegations against Kyari, stating that he is "central to ongoing investigations into grand corruption and abuse of office, misappropriation of funds."

According to the petition, Kyari allegedly failed to remit proper revenues to the Nigerian government and is accused of misappropriating "over $4 billion meant for repairs of the country's refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna."

The protesters revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Kyari and 13 others wanted in connection with these financial crimes. Despite Kyari's public claims of readiness to clear his name, the forum alleged that he has "remained in hiding," suggesting this is merely a "smokescreen" to avoid investigation.

"We consequently appeal, through Your Excellency, to the United States to deny Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari entry into your jurisdiction until such a time as investigation into his tenure is completed and he is given a clean bill of health," Benjamin stated in the petition.

The forum argued that such action would enable "the United States to maintain its stature as a shining example of accountable actions" and support Nigeria's fight against corruption.

This protest comes amid increasing scrutiny of NNPCL operations, with recent reports indicating that the corporation's external auditors failed to appear before a Senate committee investigating financial irregularities. The Senate committee has reportedly threatened sanctions over this non-compliance.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has also called on NNPCL to account for N500 billion allegedly not remitted to the Federation Account, further intensifying pressure on the national oil company and its former leadership.