Hundreds of young Nigerian professionals gathered at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, calling for the deportation of Mele Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited. The demonstrators demanded that Kyari be returned to Nigeria to face investigations over alleged corruption during his leadership of the national oil company.
Organized under the banner of the Young Professionals Forum (YPF), the protestors insisted that Kyari’s presence is crucial for ongoing inquiries into the financial operations of the NNPC during his tenure.
Barrister Sambari Benjamin, who spoke on behalf of the group, stated that Kyari’s alleged misconduct had deeply harmed Nigeria’s economy, especially the energy sector. He accused the former NNPC boss of intentionally stalling local refining projects, prioritizing personal gain over national interests, and contributing to a weakened economy.
The YPF also alleged that Kyari’s actions led to decreased national productivity, drained foreign exchange reserves, and exposed citizens to substandard petroleum products. They urged the UAE to deny him asylum, revoke any residency rights, and prevent him from using the country as a refuge from justice.
“We believe Mele Kyari’s conduct has brought dishonor to our nation,” Benjamin said. “His alleged corruption has caused significant damage, and we cannot allow those entrusted with public office to exploit their positions without consequence.”
The group emphasized that granting asylum to Kyari would undermine the Nigerian justice system and set a troubling precedent, signaling that public officials can evade accountability by fleeing abroad. They appealed to the UAE government to uphold principles of international justice and reject Kyari’s asylum or residency request.
Benjamin further warned that offering Kyari safe haven would be a blow to Nigeria’s judicial efforts and send a dangerous message to the nation’s youth—that justice is only for the powerless, while the elite can escape consequences through wealth and influence.
“We, the Young Professionals Forum of Nigeria, strongly urge the UAE to refuse residency or asylum to Mele Kyari. It must not be said that a country of the UAE’s standing became a shelter for one of Nigeria’s most controversial former officials,” he concluded.