A group of legal professionals under the banner of Lawyers in Defence of Democracy has strongly defended the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, describing the ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a politically motivated attempt to tarnish his legacy.
Speaking through its Deputy National Coordinator, Barrister Ndu Edede, the group stated that Kyari’s record during his tenure as Group Managing Director (GMD) and later GCEO of NNPCL from 2019 to 2025 was “one of the most transparent,” and maintained that no genuine investigation would yield any evidence of wrongdoing against him.
“The former GMD/GCEO midwifed the Petroleum Industry Act which has ensured the total overhaul of the NNPC and the entire oil industry,” Edede said. “Under his leadership, oil production rose to about 2 million barrels per day, moribund refineries began to be resuscitated, and the Dangote Refinery came on board—changing Nigeria’s petroleum sector narrative in unprecedented ways.”
The EFCC, in a letter dated April 28, 2025, and now circulating in the public domain, formally requested documentation from the NNPCL as part of its ongoing probe into alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of funds by former senior officials of the company. The letter, titled “Investigation Activities Request for Information” with reference number CR:3000/EFCC/ABJ/HQ/SDC.2/NNPC/VOL.1/698, lists 14 individuals under investigation, including Mele Kyari and Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua, both former heads of the oil company.
Reacting to this development, the Lawyers in Defence of Democracy warned against what they described as an “orchestrated campaign to discredit the achievements of a patriotic Nigerian.”
They argued that Kyari, more than most, demonstrated commitment and integrity in office.
“As Kyari himself said, ‘he served Nigeria with the fear of God and is willing to account for his stewardship.’ That is the voice of a man with nothing to hide,” Edede added. “We implore the EFCC to be circumspect in its approach to this probe, lest it be seen as a witch hunt against someone who gave his all in service to the nation.”
The group noted that Kyari played a central role in implementing the controversial yet impactful fuel subsidy removal policy, which they said has freed up funds for other critical areas of national development.
They called for fairness and due process, warning that any attempt to undermine Kyari’s contributions would not only demoralize public servants but also discourage the kind of reform-minded leadership the oil sector urgently requires.
