The United Kingdom has reacted to growing calls for the deportation of former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) boss, Mele Kyari.
Nigerians living in London on Monday staged a protest demanding his return to Nigeria to face corruption investigations.
They gathered outside the Nigerian High Commission and the UK Home Office, carrying placards and chanting slogans calling for Kyari’s deportation.
The protest was organised by a group known as Rescue Nigeria Now (RNN), which submitted petitions to both offices urging action.
The demonstrators accused Kyari of fleeing to the UK shortly after he was removed from office in Nigeria.
They claimed he left to avoid answering to allegations of corruption, including the mismanagement of billions of dollars earmarked for the rehabilitation of refineries in Warri, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt during his tenure from 2019 to 2025.
According to the group’s petition, the funds meant for refinery projects reportedly vanished without explanation, and there are concerns that a portion of the money may have been moved to bank accounts in the United Kingdom.
The protesters argued that allowing Kyari to stay in the UK sends the wrong message and could damage international efforts to combat corruption.
Responding to inquiries about the situation, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, stated that the UK remains committed to its existing agreements with Nigeria regarding fraud and extradition.
However, he confirmed that, as of now, no official request for Kyari’s extradition has been received from the Nigerian government.
Meanwhile, the protest in London adds to the pressure on Nigerian authorities, especially after some of Kyari’s former executives were questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The protesters insisted that justice must take its course and urged both countries to uphold their anti-corruption commitments.
