A coalition of civil society organisations in the North-East, operating under the aegis of the Arewa Coalition for Accountable Leadership (ACAL), has called on Mele Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, to fully cooperate with a judicial commission of inquiry into his tenure.
In a statement issued on Friday in Bauchi, ACAL President, Dr. Aminu Mustapha Shuaibu, accused Kyari of consistently attempting to evade scrutiny, describing such actions as a betrayal of the transparency and accountability President Bola Ahmed Tinubu pledged to uphold.
Dr. Shuaibu further cautioned that any attempts to distract from the investigation through sponsored narratives would only deepen public suspicion and strengthen the demand for accountability.
“Mele Kyari should be the loudest voice calling for this probe if he truly believes in the integrity he claims. Silence and sponsored distractions only fuel our suspicion.
“To those hired to sing songs of innocence, let it be known: the days of shielding the powerful are over. The people demand justice, and justice must be served,” Shuaibu stated.
He stressed that the demand for accountability in the oil and gas sector is a rare moment of national unity that cuts across every divide.
According to him, “The oil and gas sector remains the lifeblood of Nigeria’s economy. If we cannot hold its managers accountable, then we have surrendered our sovereignty to corruption.
He emphasised that this moment is not just about Mele Kyari but about the soul of Nigeria’s fight against corruption.
“This government has a golden opportunity to prove that no one is above the law. The citizens are watching, the international community is watching, and Nigeria must show that our justice system can function without fear or favour. We are not calling for persecution, but for truth. Let the facts come out in the open.”
Dr Shuaibu applauded the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for his recent assurance that no one is above the law, including the former NNPCL boss, and for reiterating that Nigerians’ call for an investigation would be honoured.
“The Honourable Attorney General, Mr. Fagbemi, has once again shown himself to be a custodian of public interest. His assurance that Mele Kyari will not be shielded from accountability is a breath of fresh air in a country weary of selective justice. We commend him and call on his office to immediately activate the machinery for a judicial commission of inquiry,” he said.
The Arewa Coalition for Accountable Leadership called on President Tinubu to back the AGF’s position by publicly supporting the judicial commission of inquiry, noting that the current administration cannot afford to be seen as defending the alleged excesses of past officeholders.
The coalition warned that any further delay in constituting the panel of inquiry would be interpreted as 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 abuse of public trust, no matter how highly placed the individual is,” Shuaibu added.
