Mele Kyari | File Image
‘The ongoing probe must not be reduced to a mere public show but must result in the prosecution of all those found culpable, irrespective of their political or economic connections’
By Valentine Amanze
Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and a coalition of 75 civil society organisations, under the umbrella of the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs), have thrown their weight behind the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the arrest and interrogation of the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari.
They made the commendation in a joint statement signed by Comrade James Ezema, the deputy national publicity secretary of CNPP; and Alhaji Ali Abacha, the national secretary of CNCSOs.
The groups also hailed the EFCC for what they described as “a long-awaited step in the right direction” in addressing monumental fraud in the oil and gas sector.
They stated: “We view this bold action as a long-awaited step in the right direction, especially given the gravity of allegations surrounding the multi-billion-dollar Turnaround Maintenance of Nigeria’s refineries, which have remained comatose despite billions of dollars purportedly expended under Kyari’s watch.”
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The CNPP and CNCSOs lamanted that the Nigerian people have “endured decades of monumental fraud, waste, and mismanagement in the oil and gas sector, with the refineries representing the single most glaring example of elite corruption.”
They noted that it was “heartening to see the EFCC rise to its constitutional responsibility by interrogating one of the key actors accused in these monumental scandals.”
The groups demanded an “uncompromised, thorough, and transparent investigation” into the allegations of abuse of office, diversion of public funds, money laundering, and conspiracy linked to Kyari and his associates.
“The ongoing probe must not be reduced to a mere public show but must result in the prosecution of all those found culpable, irrespective of their political or economic connections,” they insisted.
The joint statement further warned that if the investigation is compromised, the CNPP and CNCSOs will be left with no choice but to take legal and constitutional action to protect the interests of Nigerians.
“If this investigation is compromised or derailed in any way, we will not hesitate to deploy all constitutional and legal instruments available to us, including public interest litigation, mass action, and sustained advocacy campaigns, to ensure that justice is not denied to the Nigerian people,” the groups cautioned.
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