The Concerned Citizens Against Corruption (CCAC) has formally withdrawn its petition against former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari, admitting that its earlier allegations were based on misinformation and premature conclusions.
The group, which had organised a nationwide protest on 23rd April 2025 demanding an investigation into Kyari’s tenure, publicly retracted its position during a press conference in Abuja, acknowledging that its actions were “hasty, premature, and lacking in facts.”
Addressing journalists, Comrade Kabir Matazu, the convener, confessed that its initial campaign against Kyari was driven by a “limited understanding” of NNPCL’s operational framework under his leadership. The group admitted that it had been misled by sources it had trusted, singling out Hon. Philip Agbese for providing “ill-conceived and misguided information” that formed the basis of its protest.
“Despite our patriotic intentions to promote accountability, we acted without full knowledge of the facts,” the group stated. “No amount of apology can undo the damage caused by our errors, but we must set the record straight.”
One of the key allegations retracted was the claim of an improper crude oil deal involving Matrix Energy. The CCAC clarified that NNPCL, as a limited liability company, is legally empowered to enter into commercial agreements, and there was nothing untoward about the transactions under Kyari’s watch.
“NNPCL is statutorily authorised to engage in such deals, and any concerns should be addressed through proper regulatory channels, not sensationalised protests,” the group conceded.
In an unexpected turn, the CCAC openly commended Kyari’s achievements, acknowledging that his tenure marked a significant turnaround for Nigeria’s oil sector. The group highlighted the commercialisation of NNPCL, increased crude production from under one million barrels per day to nearly two million, and the revitalisation of Nigeria’s moribund refineries as key milestones under his leadership.
“We cannot deny the facts: Kyari’s expertise brought tangible progress. Local refining efforts gained momentum, and oil theft was tackled decisively. These are verifiable achievements that we wrongly sought to undermine,” the group said.
The CCAC also cited the stance of major industry stakeholders, including the Trade Union Congress (TUC), PENGASSAN, and NUPENG, as influencing its decision to backtrack. These groups had dismissed the allegations as unfounded, further exposing the CCAC’s lack of due diligence.
“Accountability remains our watchword, but we acted in isolation, ignoring voices that mattered. The petroleum unions refuted our claims with evidence, leaving us no choice but to reconsider,” the group admitted.
While retracting its petition, the CCAC insisted that the move does not signify an abandonment of its anti-corruption mandate. Instead, it vowed to exercise greater caution in future engagements to avoid being weaponised by political interests.
“We remain committed to holding public officials accountable, but we must also acknowledge when we err. Targeting an innocent man helps no one. We shall be more scrupulous moving forward,” the group declared.
The retraction was signed by Comrade Kabir Matazu on behalf of the CCAC, marking a rare moment of public self-correction in Nigeria’s often fractious civil society space.
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