A coalition of civil society organisations in search of the investigation of a former Group Chief Govt Officer of the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm Restricted, Mele Kyari, has withdrawn its allegations.

Protesters who had beforehand accused Kyari of corruption have formally retracted their claims, attributing the misinformation to a deceptive assertion by the spokesperson of the Home of Representatives, Philip Agbese.

The group, Involved Residents In opposition to Corruption, final week led a protest on the workplace of the Lawyer Normal of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to demand Kyari’s prosecution.

The coalition lamented that regardless of the dismissal of Kyari and the complete NNPCL board by President Bola Tinubu on April 2, 2025, no steps have been taken to analyze the alleged corrupt practices beneath the previous GCEO’s management.

However addressing a press convention in Abuja on Thursday, convener of the CCAC, Kabir Matazu, admitted that its April 23 protest on the Federal Ministry of Justice was hasty, untimely, and missing in information.

He claimed that the sooner choice by the group to launch a nationwide protest and demand the probe of Kyari was pushed by a restricted understanding of the strategic intents and works of the NNPC as a restricted legal responsibility firm.

Nonetheless, he famous that having consulted broadly and reviewed the information, “We’re satisfied that Kyari acted throughout the scope of his obligations and in accordance with due course of.”

He added, “As accountable company residents, we and all our Civil Society companions who organised a protest on twenty third April 2025 towards Mallam Mele Kyari have taken the exhausting choice of admitting that our earlier choice to launch a nationwide protest and demand the probe of the ex-NNPCL boss was pushed by our restricted understanding of the strategic intents and works of the NNPC as a restricted legal responsibility firm beneath the management of Mele Kyari.

“Our motion was due to this fact hasty, untimely and missing in information. Regardless of our constructive and patriotic intentions, which have been geared toward fostering accountability and transparency in governance, we have been misled by these we trusted to supply us with the essential information. Notably, Hon. Philip Agbese supplied ill-conceived and misguided data to our group. Certainly, no quantity of apology will compensate for the injury brought on by our admissible errors and omissions.

“It’s extremely regrettable that, regardless of our greatest efforts, we have been dragged unknowingly into the allegation a few crude cope with Matrix Vitality by people with unpatriotic intentions. “We admit in humility that it’s statutory for NNPCL, whether or not beneath Kyari or the brand new administration, to enter into enterprise agreements.

“There may be nothing unlawful about what the corporate did beneath Mallam Mele Kyari, as we have been erroneously made to imagine. NNPCL is sanctioned on the highest authorities to enter into such offers, and if there are points, they are going to be dealt with appropriately in shut coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum.”

The group additional praised Kyari’s management throughout his time at NNPCL, noting his function within the transformation of the organisation, the unbundling of the corporate, the return to profitability, and efforts to revive Nigeria’s long-dormant refineries.

“Mr Mele Kyari, with gathered years {of professional} experience, additionally supervised and coordinated transformation efforts that led to the take-off of native refining, together with giving all help thereto.

“The revival of Nigeria’s decades-long moribund native public refineries is all traceable to his selfless {and professional} wit. That document can’t be twisted, and we didn’t got down to twist it, besides that we have been misled,” it stated.

The group acknowledged additional that the place of credible labour unions and curiosity teams within the petroleum sector, such because the Commerce Union Congress, Petroleum and Pure Fuel Senior Employees Affiliation of Nigeria, and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Pure Fuel Employees, clearly confirmed that it acted out of ignorance.

He stated, “Whereas accountability is the watchword of public service, now we have now come to the conclusion that we acted with out due diligence and alone, as all stakeholders have vehemently refuted our claims with exhausting information. Let it’s recognized that we’re retracting our petition and place prior acknowledged on the protest. We’re not condoning corruption however merely acknowledging that an incorruptible man was focused wrongly, and we apologise.

“We have a good time the truth that beneath Kyari, Nigeria battled oil theft to a standstill, shifting crude manufacturing from lower than a million barrels per day to about 2 million barrels per day. Once more, after cautious thought and with the progress made within the petroleum sector to date beneath the present administration, now we have concluded that, from skilled data, the amount of cash spent on the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s ailing refineries was not an excessive amount of however fairly thoughtful.

“The truth that these refineries are working at nearly full capability has weakened our place the extra and will probably be grossly unpatriotic to proceed to carry onto such deceptive narratives as that may have an effect on our fame as truthful umpires and watchdogs of the society.

“Subsequently, we name on all Nigerians, particularly those that believed our misinformed place that our plan and motion have been unjustified, and we hereby denounce our actions and retract the misguided allegations. This could on no account imply that we’re backtracking on our core mandate and mission however to strengthen our place as a reputable, dependable and reliable voice within the Nigerian polity. We will be extra scrupulous in our subsequent outings.”

When contacted on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Home of Representatives defined that the knowledge shared was meant to advertise accountability and transparency in public workplace.

He emphasised that initiating a probe or inquiry shouldn’t be seen as an indictment, however reasonably as a constructive course of that enables public officers to elucidate their stewardship—a wholesome train in democratic governance.

He additionally questioned the timing and motivations behind the protesters’ retraction.

Agbese, talking in an interview on Thursday, stated, “As a patron of a number of civil societies, I imagine it’s important to advertise accountability and transparency in public workplace. A probe or inquiry offers a possibility for public officers to account for his or her stewardship, and it’s a wholesome train in good governance. Nonetheless, I discover it regarding that sure people is perhaps making an attempt to compromise CSOs to affect their judgments. It’s essential that we stay vigilant and dedicated to our core values.

“Concerning the current retraction of allegations towards Mele Kyari, I query the motivations behind it. If somebody throughout the NNPCL is utilizing firm funds to orchestrate publicity stunts, the present management should take swift motion to deal with this concern. In the end, the important thing points raised earlier nonetheless have to be addressed.

“Have the pertinent questions been answered? Transparency and accountability are important in public workplace, and we should be certain that these values are upheld. Let’s prioritise fact-based discourse and keep away from being swayed by misinformation or ulterior motives. By doing so, we will promote a tradition of accountability and transparency that advantages everybody.”

Supply: The Punch