Mele Kyari: Young Nigerians Urge UAE to Deport Former NNPC Chief Over Corruption Allegations

• Hundreds of young Nigerian professionals on Wednesday, May 21, protested at the UAE Embassy in Abuja, demanding the deportation of former NNPC boss Mele Kyari over corruption allegations
• The Young Professionals Forum accused Kyari of sabotaging Nigeria’s economy and called on the UAE to deny him asylum or residency
• Protesters warned that granting him refuge would undermine Nigeria’s judicial process and encourage impunity

Abuja, FCT - Hundreds of young Nigerian professionals staged a protest outside the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, May 21, calling for the deportation of Mele Kyari, former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, to face ongoing corruption investigations.

The demonstration, organised by the Young Professionals Forum (YPF), accused Kyari of engaging in practices that allegedly undermined Nigeria’s economy and energy infrastructure. The group urged the UAE government to deny him residency, asylum, or any form of protection.

Kyari accused of economic sabotage

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Barrister Sambari Benjamin accused Kyari of obstructing local petroleum refining efforts, prioritising personal gain over national interest, and contributing to widespread hardship.

“His actions crippled productivity, drained our foreign reserves, and exposed consumers to adulterated petroleum products,” Benjamin said. “We believe that Mele Kyari’s alleged corrupt practices have had devastating consequences for Nigeria and must not go unpunished.”

YPF Calls for International Action

YPF argued that granting Kyari sanctuary would undermine the rule of law and embolden public officials seeking to evade justice.

“Allowing Kyari to remain in the UAE would be a direct affront to Nigeria’s judicial process,” Benjamin said. “It would also send a dangerous message to the youth and future leaders — that accountability is optional, and justice can be sidestepped by the powerful.”

The group emphasised the need for international cooperation in tackling corruption and preserving the credibility of governance institutions.

UAE Urged to Uphold Justice

The protesters called on the UAE, which they described as a “nation of high moral standing,” to distance itself from individuals facing serious allegations.

“We urge the UAE not to become an escape route for controversial figures in Nigeria’s regulatory history,” Benjamin said. “The people of Nigeria demand accountability and transparency. Justice must not only be done — it must be seen to be done.”

The demonstration comes amid increasing calls for scrutiny of public officials in Nigeria, as authorities intensify efforts to investigate corruption in key sectors, including oil and gas.

World Bank indicts NNPC

Meanwhile, a new report by the World Bank said that the NNPC only remits half of the financial proceeds from petrol subsidy removal to the federation account due to debt arrears.

President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the subsidy in 2023, tripling petrol prices. However, the move was projected to save Nigeria billions of dollars annually. The decision was part of the economic reforms of Tinubu’s government and was meant to free up funds for critical infrastructure and social intervention programmes.

However, in the World Bank’s latest report on Nigeria, the bank disclosed that the state oil firm has been transferring about 50% of the subsidy savings to the federation account, which is shared among the three tiers of government.

Source: Legit.ng