Protesters on Thursday stormed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) embassy in Abuja, demanding the deportation of Mele Kyari, former group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
The protesters, under the aegis of the Young Professionals Forum (YPF), said Kyari must be returned to Nigeria to face ongoing investigations into alleged corruption and economic sabotage.
Barrister Sambari Benjamin, who spoke on behalf of the forum, alleged that Kyari’s actions while in office had far-reaching consequences on Nigeria’s economy and energy sector.
Benjamin said Kyari “deliberately obstructed local refining initiatives, blatantly disregarded national interests, and enriched himself at the country’s expense”.
He added: “We believe that Mele Kyari’s actions have brought shame to our nation and our people.
“His alleged corrupt practices have had devastating consequences for our economy and our people.
“We cannot stand idly by while those in positions of authority abuse their power for personal gain.”
Benjamin said Kyari’s tenure crippled national productivity, depleted Nigeria’s foreign reserves, and exposed consumers to adulterated petroleum products.
The group urged the UAE government to refuse Kyari residency or asylum and blacklist him to prevent his “escape from justice”.
“The Nigerian people demand accountability and transparency, and we will not rest until justice is served,” he said.
They warned that granting Kyari asylum would undermine the Nigerian judicial process and send the wrong signal to public officeholders.
“More devastatingly, this would obviously send an unfortunate message to the people of Nigeria — that accountability is optional, that impunity is mobile, and that justice can be conveniently overridden or circumvented by the elites who can afford the financial prize.
“We, the Young Professionals Forum of Nigeria, therefore urge, in the strongest possible terms, that the United Arab Emirates refuse him residency and asylum,” Benjamin stated.
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