The United Kingdom has responded to growing demands for the deportation of former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) head, Mele Kyari.
On Monday, Nigerians based in London held a protest, asking that Kyari be sent back to Nigeria to face corruption probes. The protesters gathered outside the Nigerian High Commission and the UK Home Office, holding signs and chanting for his deportation.
The protest was led by a group called Rescue Nigeria Now (RNN), which also submitted petitions to both offices, asking for immediate action.
The group claimed that Kyari left Nigeria and traveled to the UK shortly after being removed from office. They accused him of trying to avoid corruption investigations related to billions of dollars meant for repairing refineries in Warri, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt during his time as NNPCL boss from 2019 to 2025.
In their petition, the group said that the money allocated for the refinery projects disappeared without explanation. They also raised concerns that part of the missing funds might have been moved into UK bank accounts.
The protesters said letting Kyari stay in the UK could send the wrong message and harm global efforts to fight corruption.
When asked about the matter, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, said the UK is still committed to its agreements with Nigeria regarding fraud and extradition. However, he added that “as of now, no official request for Kyari’s extradition has been received from the Nigerian government.”
The protest in London has increased pressure on Nigerian authorities, especially after some of Kyari’s former senior staff were recently questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The demonstrators called for justice to be done and urged both Nigeria and the UK to honour their promises to fight corruption.
