Lawyers, activists urge EFCC probe of $4bn refinery projects, test Tinubu’s anti-corruption Aenda
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has come under pressure to prove his anti-corruption credentials as more than 500 lawyers, professionals, and civil rights activists marched to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja on Wednesday.
The demonstrators, under the banner of the Concerned Lawyers and Citizens Network (CLCN), demanded action on the $4 billion refinery rehabilitation projects undertaken during the tenure of former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) chief executive Mele Kyari. They submitted a petition seeking an independent forensic audit and prosecution of any persons found culpable.
Barrister Theophilus Ojonugwa, who led the group, described the controversy as a defining test for Tinubu’s anti-graft drive. “This is not merely a financial matter; it is a question of national development and public trust,” he said, linking the stalled projects to Nigeria’s continued dependence on imported petroleum products.
The petition argued that the alleged mismanagement represented missed opportunities for investment in education, healthcare, and job creation. It called for scrutiny of all companies linked to the projects and urged the use of international forensic auditors to ensure transparency.
“If $4 billion had been properly invested, Nigeria would be self-sufficient in refining today,” Ojonugwa said.
The group urged the EFCC to conduct a thorough probe, prosecute those indicted, and recover looted assets. They also appealed to Tinubu to make the case a “watershed moment” for Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign while calling on citizens to remain engaged in holding leaders accountable.
