Shock U-turn: Protest group withdraws corruption claims against ex-NNPC boss Mele Kyari
In a surprising twist, just a week after leading a protest calling for the arrest and prosecution of former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) boss Mele Kyari, a coalition of civil society organisations has now withdrawn all allegations against him.
At a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, May 1, the group—Concerned Citizens Against Corruption (CCAC)—said their earlier protest on Tuesday, April 23 was “hasty, premature, and lacking in facts.”
Comrade Kabir Matazu, the convener of the group, explained that their demand for Kyari’s probe was based on a “limited understanding” of how the NNPCL operates as a limited liability company. He admitted that after further consultation and fact-checking, they concluded that Kyari acted within the law and followed due process during his time in office.
“Despite our constructive and patriotic intentions… we were misled by those we trusted to provide us with the basic facts,” Matazu said.
This comes after rising public pressure and several calls for investigations into Kyari, especially following his dismissal by President Bola Tinubu on April 2, along with NNPCL Chairman Pius Akinyelure.
The coalition now says it is stepping back from its accusations and will refocus on ensuring fact-based advocacy in the future.
