Hundreds of Nigerians, operating under the banner Rescue Nigeria Now, staged coordinated protests at the Nigerian High Commission and the UK Home Office in London on Monday, May 12, 2025, demanding the immediate deportation of former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) boss, Mele Kyari, to face multiple corruption probes in Nigeria.
Chanting slogans such as “Withdraw Mele Kyari’s residency now!” and “Go home and face EFCC now!”, the protesters accused Kyari of orchestrating a “flight from accountability” and described his continued stay in the United Kingdom as “an affront to the Nigerian people.”
In formal petitions submitted to both Nigerian and British authorities, the group condemned Kyari’s alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as Group CEO of NNPCL from 2019 to 2025. The petition pointed to “mountains of audit queries, petitions, and evidence” implicating him in large-scale financial misappropriation.
“It is an affront to the Nigerian people and an insult to the anti-corruption efforts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” their letter to the Nigerian High Commissioner stated.
Rescue Nigeria Now specifically alleged that Kyari oversaw the misappropriation of billions of dollars allocated for the revival of Nigeria’s refineries in Warri, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt. According to the group, despite these investments, the refineries remained dormant, forcing the country to rely heavily on fuel imports.
The protestors further claimed that under Kyari, NNPCL became an “impenetrable black box,” running on secrecy and riddled with racketeering networks that exploited fuel subsidy systems for personal gain. They accused Kyari of leading a “syndicate of racketeers” who enriched themselves through fraudulent importation deals and subsidy scams that worsened fuel scarcity and drove up living costs.
In a separate letter to the UK Home Office, the group warned that harbouring Kyari in the UK undermines international anti-corruption efforts. They alleged he had laundered illicit funds through British banks and urged UK authorities to take action under existing treaties with Nigeria.
“We are aware that Mr. Kyari is currently residing in the United Kingdom, a development he carefully orchestrated to evade justice. The UK must not become a sanctuary for corrupt public officials,” the petition read.
The protestors demanded that the UK withdraw any residency privileges Kyari may hold and deport him to Nigeria to face the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“This is not just a petition; it is a moral, civic, and nationalistic demand. Deport Mele Kyari now,” the demonstrators echoed as they dispersed.
