President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is facing mounting pressure to demonstrate his commitment to fighting corruption as over 500 lawyers, professionals, and civil rights activists staged a protest at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja on Wednesday.
The demonstrators, under the banner of the Concerned Lawyers and Citizens Network (CLCN), demanded a probe into the $4 billion allocated for refinery rehabilitation projects during the tenure of former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.
Led by Barrister Theophilus Ojonugwa, the group submitted a petition urging the EFCC to launch an independent forensic audit and prosecute anyone found culpable of mismanaging the funds.
Ojonugwa told journalists that the controversy represents a litmus test for the Tinubu administration’s anti-corruption stance.
“This is not merely a financial matter; it is a question of national development and public trust,” he said, linking the stalled projects to Nigeria’s continued dependence on imported petroleum products.
The CLCN argued that the alleged mismanagement of the $4 billion fund amounted to a betrayal of public trust, citing lost opportunities to invest in education, healthcare, and job creation.
They further called for international auditors to ensure transparency in reviewing the projects.
“If $4 billion had been properly invested, Nigeria would be self-sufficient in refining today,” Ojonugwa added.
The petition urged the EFCC to investigate, recover diverted assets, and prosecute any indicted individuals or entities.
The group also appealed to Tinubu to use the case as a turning point in Nigeria’s anti-graft campaign.
“The destiny of our nation rests in the courage of its people,” the Network stated, while calling on citizens to remain vigilant in demanding accountability.