A coalition of civil society organisations seeking the investigation of former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has withdrawn its allegations.

The group, Concerned Citizens Against Corruption (CCAC), last week led a protest to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to demand Kyari’s prosecution.

The coalition lamented that despite the dismissal of Kyari and the entire NNPCL board by President Bola Tinubu on April 2, 2025, no steps have been taken to investigate the alleged corrupt practices under the former GCEO’s leadership.

But addressing a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, convener of the CCAC, comrade Kabir Matazu, admitted that its April 23 protest at the Federal Ministry of Justice was hasty, premature, and lacking in facts.

He claimed that the initial decision to launch a nationwide protest and demand the probe of Kyari was driven by a limited understanding of the strategic intents and works of the NNPC as a limited liability company.

Matazu said the group acted on misinformation provided by individuals with questionable motives.

According to him, having consulted widely and reviewed the facts, “we are convinced that Kyari acted within the scope of his responsibilities and in accordance with due process.

“As responsible corporate citizens, we and all our Civil Society partners who organized a protest on 23rd April 2025 against Mallam Mele Kyari have taken the hard decision of admitting that our earlier decision to launch a nationwide protest and demand the probe of the Ex-NNPLC boss was driven by our limited understanding of the strategic intents and works of the NNPC as a limited liability company under the leadership of Mele Kyari. Our action was therefore hasty, premature, and lacking in facts.

“Despite our constructive and patriotic intentions which were aimed at fostering accountability and transparency in governance, we were misled by those we trusted to provide us with the basic facts.

“We admit in humility that it is statutory for NNPCL, whether under Kyari or the new management, to enter into business agreements.

“There is nothing illegal about what the company did under Mallam Mele Kyari, as we were erroneously made to believe. NNPLC is sanctioned at the highest authorities to enter into such deals, and if there are issues, it will be handled appropriately in close coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum.”

The group praised Kyari’s leadership during his time at NNPCL, noting his role in the transformation of the organisation, the unbundling of the company, the return to profitability, and efforts to revive Nigeria’s long-dormant refineries.