Mele Kyari has been disgraced at the United Arab Emirates as Nigerians demanded his deportation over corruption allegations.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that Mele Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), faced a major public backlash on Wednesday as hundreds of Nigerian professionals stormed the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Abuja, calling for his immediate deportation to face corruption investigations back home.
Under the banner of the Young Professionals Forum (YPF), the protesters accused Kyari of orchestrating widespread corruption during his tenure, crippling Nigeria’s energy sector, and sabotaging local refining efforts for personal gain. Chanting slogans and waving placards, the demonstrators demanded that the UAE deny him asylum or residency and instead hand him over to Nigerian authorities for prosecution.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Barrister Sambari Benjamin described Kyari’s tenure at NNPCL as one riddled with “deliberate obstruction of national progress, blatant abuse of power, and gross economic mismanagement.” He said Kyari’s alleged corrupt practices have drained Nigeria’s foreign reserves, deepened dependency on fuel imports, and exposed consumers to dangerous, substandard petroleum products.
“We believe that Mele Kyari’s actions have brought shame to our nation and our people,” Benjamin said. “His corrupt practices had devastating consequences. The energy sector suffered, our economy bled, and our people paid the price.”
The group called on the UAE government to uphold principles of international justice by denying Kyari any form of sanctuary. “Granting Kyari asylum would not only undermine Nigeria’s justice system but also send a dangerous message that corrupt officials can escape accountability by fleeing abroad,” Benjamin stated.
He further warned that protecting Kyari could tarnish the UAE’s international reputation, especially given its role as a partner in anti-corruption and transparency efforts across Africa.
In a strongly worded statement, the Young Professionals Forum warned that shielding Kyari would signal a collapse of accountability. “It would mean impunity is mobile, and justice is a privilege of the wealthy,” Benjamin declared. “This cannot be allowed. The world is watching.”
The protesters urged the UAE not to become a haven for “disgraced officials” and instead support Nigeria’s efforts to hold public figures accountable for their stewardship.
The protest comes as investigations into Kyari’s financial dealings during his leadership at NNPCL intensify, with mounting calls for him to return to Nigeria to answer allegations ranging from financial misappropriation to sabotage of national interests.