On Monday, May 12, 2025, hundreds of Nigerians under the banner of Rescue Nigeria Now gathered at the Nigerian High Commission and the UK Home Office in London, demanding the deportation of former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group CEO, Mele Kyari, to face corruption investigations in Nigeria.
The protesters, carrying placards with slogans like “Withdraw Mele Kyari’s residency now!” and “London is not for public officials who abused public trust,” submitted petitions to both UK and Nigerian authorities. They accused Kyari of evading accountability despite facing serious allegations linked to his tenure at NNPCL from 2019 to 2025.
In a letter to the Nigerian High Commissioner, the group expressed outrage over Kyari’s continued stay in the UK, citing “mountains of audit queries, petitions, and evidence” implicating him in corruption.
“It is an affront to the Nigerian people and an insult to the nation’s anti-corruption efforts,” the letter read, adding that Kyari’s leadership was marked by “unprecedented corruption and international embarrassment.”
The petition specifically accused Kyari of mismanaging billions of dollars meant for the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries in Warri, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt, which remained non-functional despite the funding. It further alleged that he led a network of racketeers profiting from fraudulent fuel importation schemes, resulting in fuel scarcity, inflation, and economic hardship for Nigerians.
The group also condemned his management of the fuel subsidy regime, describing it as opaque, inconsistent, and riddled with cronyism and inflated claims. While praising President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove the subsidy as “visionary,” they criticized Kyari for using the system as “an ideological tool of deceit.”
Addressing the UK Home Office, the group warned that harboring Kyari could undermine global anti-corruption efforts, alleging he had moved illicit funds into UK bank accounts, potentially violating British anti-money laundering laws.
“We are aware that Mr. Kyari is residing in the UK to evade justice. The UK must not become a safe haven for corrupt officials,” the petition stated.
Rescue Nigeria Now urged British authorities to activate bilateral treaties with Nigeria to deport Kyari and assist in the recovery of public funds.
“This is not just a petition,” they chanted, “it is a moral, civic, and nationalistic demand—Deport Mele Kyari now!”
