· Name NNPCL CFO, others
· Demand global sanctions against officials accused of looting public funds
· As AljazirahNigeria partners EFCC over corruption exposure, seeks 4% which fee
By Dauda Ismail
A coalition of more than 70 international Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, and allied Civil Society Groups, CSOs, has launched an unprecedented campaign urging Western governments to impose visa restrictions and financial sanctions on Nigerian public officials accused of corruption, abuse of office and economic sabotage.
The coalition, which includes advocacy organisations operating across Africa, Europe and North America, said the proposed sanctions regime is aimed at deterring what it described as “systemic looting of public resources” and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture.
At the centre of the campaign are present and former officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, including the company’s Chief Financial Officer, CFO, Dapo Segun, who has recently faced mounting scrutiny over allegations linked to refinery rehabilitation projects and the controversial acquisition of OVH Energy.
The coalition’s latest move comes amid growing domestic and international concerns over alleged financial irregularities within the oil giant, with rights groups, lawyers and anti-corruption advocates intensifying calls for forensic investigations into several multi-billion-dollar transactions tied to the state-owned energy company.
According to documents and petitions submitted to foreign diplomatic missions in Abuja, the coalition is seeking coordinated travel restrictions against officials under investigation for corruption-related offences, particularly those accused of diverting public funds or frustrating accountability processes.
Several of the groups argued that Nigeria’s weak prosecution record against politically exposed persons has made international pressure increasingly necessary.
“We cannot continue to watch public officials accused of monumental corruption enjoy unrestricted access to foreign jurisdictions where they acquire assets, educate their children and safeguard questionable wealth,” one of the coalition leaders said during a recent press briefing in Abuja.
The development follows a string of coordinated actions by civil society organisations and advocacy groups targeting former and serving NNPCL officials.
In May 2025, the Young Professionals Forum of Nigeria submitted a petition to the United States Embassy in Abuja requesting visa restrictions against former NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, over ongoing corruption allegations linked to refinery rehabilitation projects and alleged financial misconduct.
The petition alleged that billions of dollars earmarked for refinery rehabilitation under Kyari’s leadership remained unaccounted for, while several facilities failed to achieve expected operational performance despite massive public expenditure.
The anti-corruption pressure intensified further after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, publicly disclosed that preliminary investigations into NNPCL finances uncovered what it described as “mind-boggling” levels of fraud and abuse. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede stated that early findings from ongoing probes had exposed extensive financial irregularities within the organisation.
Civil society groups have increasingly focused attention on the role of senior finance and downstream officials within the NNPCL structure.
In one of the most prominent legal actions so far, a rights organisation approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order compelling the EFCC to investigate NNPCL Chief Financial Officer Dapo Segun over alleged irregularities surrounding the acquisition of OVH Energy and refinery rehabilitation contracts.
Court filings alleged that approximately $325 million was expended on the OVH transaction without sufficient public disclosure regarding the valuation process and ownership structure. The suit also questioned the expenditure of billions of dollars on refinery rehabilitation projects that critics argue have yielded limited measurable outcomes.
Although no court has convicted Segun or other named officials of wrongdoing, advocacy groups insist that the scale of the allegations warrants both domestic and international scrutiny.
Another coalition involving the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, and more than 75 allied civil society organisations recently demanded the arrest of former NNPCL executives and called for a comprehensive forensic audit into alleged corruption, refinery fraud and oil theft running into trillions of naira.
The groups argued that the continued movement of politically exposed persons across international borders undermines ongoing anti-corruption efforts and weakens public confidence in governance.
Analysts say the latest campaign mirrors tactics previously deployed by Western governments against officials in countries accused of large-scale corruption or human rights violations, where visa denials and asset freezes became instruments of diplomatic pressure.
Transparency advocates contend that such sanctions could have significant symbolic and practical consequences for Nigeria’s political elite, many of whom maintain business, educational and property interests abroad.
The growing internationalisation of Nigeria’s corruption debate also reflects wider frustrations among citizens and civil society groups over the perceived slow pace of accountability in high-profile financial scandals.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, recently demanded explanations from the NNPCL over alleged missing funds amounting to billions of naira and several millions of dollars cited in audit queries.
SERAP subsequently initiated legal proceedings seeking judicial orders compelling the company to account for the disputed funds and disclose relevant transaction details.
Meanwhile, governance experts warn that the growing number of corruption allegations surrounding Nigeria’s oil sector could further damage investor confidence and deepen public distrust in key institutions unless authorities respond decisively.
Despite the mounting accusations, many of the officials mentioned in the petitions and lawsuits have either denied wrongdoing or have yet to issue formal responses to the allegations.
The NNPCL has consistently maintained that its operations comply with regulatory standards and that ongoing reforms are designed to improve transparency and efficiency within the organisation.
However, for the coalition of international NGOs and civil society groups behind the latest sanctions push, the issue has transcended domestic politics.
Their message, according to insiders familiar with the campaign, is simple: public officials accused of corruption should no longer view foreign capitals as safe havens while accountability battles rage at home.
Meanwhile, in a bid to make a meaningful contribution to Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign, AljazirahNigeria Newspapers is set to go into partnership with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, undertaking in-depth investigations into graft and submitting its findings for further action. In return, the newspaper seeks a modest 4% of recovered funds, in line with the Federal Government’s whistleblower policy, as a performance-based incentive. The arrangement is intended to bolster investigative journalism, encourage whistleblower participation, and sustain anti-graft initiatives. Ultimately, it is aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s image and standing within the international community.
