A coalition of civil society organisations from Nigeria’s North-East has urged Mele Kyari, former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, to support calls for a judicial commission of inquiry into his tenure.
Operating under the banner of the Arewa Coalition for Accountable Leadership (ACAL), the groups argued that sponsoring counter-campaigns to discredit calls for an investigation amounts to an admission of guilt.
In a statement issued on Friday in Bauchi, Aminu Mustapha Shuaibu, ACAL’s president, said: “Mele Kyari should be the loudest voice calling for this probe if he truly believes in the integrity he claims,” Shuaibu said.
He warned that any effort to divert attention from a thorough investigation would only strengthen the determination of Nigerians to demand accountability.
Shuaibu stressed that the call for scrutiny of the oil and gas sector transcends political and regional divides, describing it as a moral imperative for the future of the nation.
“The oil and gas sector remains the lifeblood of Nigeria’s economy. If we cannot hold its managers accountable, we are surrendering our sovereignty to corruption,” he said. “Every kobo [taken] from NNPC is a child pulled out of school, a woman denied maternal care, and a farmer deprived of decent infrastructure.”
Shuaibu emphasised that the issue was not merely about Kyari but about safeguarding Nigeria’s commitment to fighting corruption. He added that the nation’s credibility, both domestically and internationally, was at stake.
Commending the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for assuring Nigerians that no one is above the law, Shuaibu called for immediate action to constitute a judicial commission.
“The Honourable Attorney General, Mr Fagbemi, has demonstrated his dedication to public interest. His assurance that Mele Kyari will not be shielded from accountability is a breath of fresh air for Nigerians weary of selective justice,” he said.
The coalition urged President Bola Tinubu to publicly endorse the Attorney General’s position, warning that any further delay in establishing the inquiry panel would be viewed as tacit complicity.
“We will not sit by and allow the sweat and sacrifice of the Nigerian people to be trampled upon. If we must move forward as a nation, there must be consequences for the abuse of public trust, regardless of status,” Shuaibu concluded.
