12
May
May
NIGERIANS IN UK PROTEST AGAINST MELE KYARI, DEMAND DEPORTATION OVER CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS
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CapitalTimesNews / 1 month
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- 3 min read
Hundreds of Nigerians gathered outside the Nigerian High Commission and the UK Home Office in London on Monday, May 12, 2025, demanding the deportation of former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) boss Mele Kyari to face corruption investigations in Nigeria. The protesters, under the banner of Rescue Nigeria Now, submitted formal petitions to both institutions, accusing Kyari of fleeing Nigeria to evade accountability for alleged financial misconduct during his tenure at NNPCL from 2019 to 2025. They carried placards with bold inscriptions such as “Withdraw Mele Kyari’s residency now!”, “Mele Kyari go home and face EFCC now!”, and “London is not for public officials who abused public trust.” In a letter addressed to the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, the group expressed their disillusionment and outrage over Kyari’s freedom to walk the streets of London despite numerous allegations of corruption against him. “We are profoundly disillusioned and appalled by the effrontery with which Mr. Kyari has been walking in the street of London with impunity, while the tables of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria are flooded with so much petitions, audit queries, and evidences on the many alleged corrupt financial dealings and infraction that have been attached to his tenure,” the letter reads. The protesters detailed several allegations against Kyari, including the misappropriation of funds earmarked for refinery rehabilitation. Billions of dollars allocated for the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries in Warri, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt allegedly vanished without tangible results. Instead, Nigeria continued importing refined petroleum products while its refineries remained moribund. The group also accused Kyari of running a syndicate of racketeers benefiting from fuel importation operations and criticized the fuel subsidy regime under his leadership, describing it as shrouded in confusion, crony capitalism, and contradictions. “Opaque subsidy payments of over trillions of naira were disbursed under the pretext of cushioning fuel costs. Yet, these payments lacked empirical substantiation and transparency on how they were spent,” the letter added. Rescue Nigeria Now emphasized the international implications of harboring individuals accused of corruption and alleged that Kyari transferred illicit funds to UK bank accounts. The coalition called upon the UK authorities to act in accordance with international anti-corruption agreements and expel Kyari to face justice in Nigeria. “The United Kingdom and Nigeria have established reciprocal treaties and agreements to curtail their citizens from willfully engaging in corruption and other criminal activities. Considering the extensive evidence of corruption and the severe impact on Nigeria, we hereby request that the Home Office expel Mr. Mele Kyari so that he can return to Nigeria. It is imperative that he faces justice for his actions and that the stolen funds are recovered to aid in the nation’s recovery and development,” the letter concluded.
