Lawyers, CSOs File FOI Request on NNPCL Operations Under Mele Kyari

Lawyers, CSOs File FOI Request on NNPCL Operations Under Mele Kyari

  • A coalition of lawyers and civil society groups has submitted a FOI request to the NNPCL, seeking detailed records of financial transactions and project expenditures during Mele Kyari’s tenure as GCEO
  • The group alleges contract inflation, crude oil mismanagement, and fraud in refinery repairs and oil exploration
  • They warned that failure to comply with the FOI request could lead to legal action

A coalition of lawyers and civil society organisations on Monday filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), demanding full disclosure on refinery rehabilitation projects and other transactions carried out during the tenure of former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.

The group, operating under the banner Concerned Citizens Against Corruption, called for transparency over what it described as “monumental” financial irregularities allegedly committed between July 2019 and April 2025.

Lawyers, CSOs File FOI Request on NNPCL Operations Under Mele Kyari
Lawyers, CSOs File FOI Request on NNPCL Operations Under Mele Kyari
Source: Original

Allegations of Mismanagement and Fraud

Led by Comrade Ogwuche Emmanuel, the coalition alleged that Kyari's tenure was marred by inflated contracts for refinery repairs, fraudulent crude oil allocations, misappropriation of funds, and irregularities in oil exploration and pipeline projects.

Read also

New refinery project to begin in Nigeria after Dangote’s

"We are concerned about the growing reports of inflation in the refineries rehabilitation contracts, mismanagement of crude oil proceeds, and fraudulent activities related to oil exploration that have yielded no national benefit," Ogwuche said in the FOI request submitted to the NNPCL.

Breakdown of Information Demanded

The FOI request seeks comprehensive documentation on:

Payments to contractors and consultants for the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries, including scope of work and justification for payments

Crude oil allocations and financial flows linked to pipeline security

Budgetary provisions, foreign financing, and progress reports on the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project

Records related to gasoline imports, including ship manifests, bills of lading, and discharge certificates

Details of crude-backed loans, including terms, structures, and utilization

Outcomes and feasibility studies from oil exploration activities in Gombe, Bauchi, Ogun, and Nasarawa states

Call for Accountability and Legal Recourse

The group stated that it would pursue judicial intervention should the NNPCL fail to comply with the FOI Act within the legally stipulated period.

Read also

NNPCL: Group of lawyers demand probe into Mele Kyari’s $4b refineries spending, others

“As law-abiding Nigerians affected by these issues, we require these details to initiate necessary legal actions,” the group said, citing intelligence that suggests “a pattern of institutionalising questionable practices” under Kyari’s leadership.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ezra Ukanwa avatar

Ezra Ukanwa (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Ezra Ukanwa is a Reuters-certified journalist with over 5 years of professional experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Anchor University, Lagos. Currently, he is the Politics and Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng, where he brings his expertise to provide incisive, impactful coverage of national events. Ezra was recognized as Best Campus Journalist at the Anchor University Communications Awards in 2019 and is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). Contact him at: ezra.ukanwa@corp.legit.ng or +2349036989944