$5bn AKK Pipeline Project: Protesters demand probe of Kyari’s tenure

By Seun Ibiyemi A coalition of legal practitioners under the banner of Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law staged a protest on Monday at the Federal Ministry of Finance, calling for a judicial inquiry into the administration of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kolo Kyari.The demonstrators, led by Barrister Benjamin Theophilus, submitted a formal petition urging the federal government to establish a judicial commission of inquiry. The petition calls for an investigation into wide-ranging allegations against Kyari, including corruption, tax evasion, abuse of office, and the misappropriation of public funds during his tenure.

The group raised serious questions about the costs associated with rehabilitating Nigeria’s three state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna. According to the petition, a private consortium had previously offered to restore all three refineries for $1 billion. However, under Kyari’s leadership, the NNPCL reportedly spent in excess of $4 billion without successfully reviving any of the facilities.



The petition alleged that Kyari collaborated with certain consultants and contractors involved in the refinery rehabilitation efforts to mask the true value of the contracts and avoid paying taxes owed to the federal government.Concerns were also raised over the $5 billion Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project. The group alleged irregularities in the award of contracts and the use of allocated funds.

Despite multiple budget allocations and external financing arrangements, the protesters claimed there has been minimal visible progress on the ground, with documentation lacking in transparency.Further allegations pointed to the misuse of crude oil allocations under the pretext of “pipeline security” operations, fraudulent fuel subsidy claims made during the COVID-19 lockdown period, and crude oil-backed loans totalling $21.565 billion.

These loans, the group contended, were negotiated under unfavourable terms that could jeopardise Nigeria’s future oil revenues.The lawyers demanded a detailed review of all payments made to consultants and contractors connected to the refinery projects, as well as a reassessment of contracts tied to the AKK Pipeline Project.In addition, the group urged the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to launch an investigation into suspected instances of tax evasion and falsified financial disclosures.

“We are calling for a full judicial inquiry into Mele Kyari’s period at the helm of NNPCL and a forensic audit to trace and recover any public funds that may have been misused during his time in office,” Theophilus said at the protest.The post $5bn AKK Pipeline Project: Protesters demand probe of Kyari’s tenure appeared first on Nigerian NewsDirect..