Lawyers Defend Ex-NNPCL Boss Kyari, Call EFCC Probe a “Witch-Hunt”
Legal Group Praises Kyari’s Transparency Amid EFCC Investigation
The legal advocacy group Lawyers in Defence of Democracy has strongly defended former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) CEO Mele Kyari, describing his tenure as “one of the most transparent” in the company’s history. The group dismissed the ongoing Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) probe as an attempt to tarnish his legacy.
Kyari’s Transformational Leadership
In a statement released on Monday, the group’s Deputy National Coordinator, Barrister Ndu Edede, highlighted Kyari’s achievements during his tenure from 2019 to 2025. They credited him with:
- Leading NNPC’s transformation into a limited liability company
- Implementing sweeping reforms through the Petroleum Industry Act
- Overseeing the removal of fuel subsidy
- Increasing daily oil production to nearly 2 million barrels
- Revitalizing moribund refineries
“For someone who served the country diligently as GMD and later as GCEO of NNPCL, Kyari deserves appreciation, not persecution,” the statement read.
EFCC Investigation Details
The EFCC’s investigation was revealed in an April 28, 2025 letter addressed to the current NNPCL GMD. The letter listed 14 former officials, including Kyari and Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua, as subjects of a probe into alleged:
- Abuse of office
- Financial misappropriation
Call for Caution
While acknowledging the EFCC’s right to investigate, the lawyers urged caution:
“As Kyari himself said, ‘he served Nigeria with the fear of God and is willing to account for his stewardship.’ We implore EFCC to be circumspect about its planned probe to avoid appearing as conducting a witch-hunt against someone who sacrificed for the country,” they stated.
The group expressed confidence that any transparent investigation would ultimately vindicate Kyari, whom they described as a transformational figure in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The EFCC has not yet issued an official statement regarding the investigation’s status or scope.
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