A Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Transparency in Governance has urged the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to caution some group of persons parading themselves as lawyers for unjustly smearing the image of the former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engr. Mele Kyari.
Address a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Convener of the coalition, Comrade Solomon Adodo disclosed that on or before Wednesday May 7, 2025, his group comprising civil society organizations across the country would formally file a petition against them to the NBA for punitive measures.
The coalition warned against trying Kyari in the media and creating the impression in the public that he is guilty of unfounded allegations levelled against him.
They particularly frowned at the activities of some persons parading themselves as lawyers who have made themselves willing tools in the hands of those bent on tarnishing the image of Mele Kyari.
“How can a man who is yet to be investigated be already made to look guilty? With this kind of campaign, Anti-corruption Agencies will soon be vilified when they find nothing on the man, because someone or group of persons have convicted him even without a charge,” he noted.
“This is the reason why a section of the media went into frenzy with the fake news of his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), even when the man was resting in his house. This created unnecessary anxiety amongst his family members, friends, associates and well-wishers.
“This should stop. It is very unfair. The Anti-corruption Agencies are capable of doing their job. And he has said he will answer if called, having satisfaction in his heart that he served with honour, integrity and most importantly, the fear of God.”
They added: “We have them on record to have said that they are 500 lawyers who are pursuing this matter against Mallam Mele Kyari. They will provide the particulars of those |lawyers because there should be a limit to mendacity.
“Again, recall that this pattern of one person wearing lawyers’ attire and mobilising hoodlums to push sinister agenda has been a trend by this same set of sponsors. Between October and November, 2023, they staged same type of campaign against Mallam Kyari, trying to extort money from him or his associates. But when more credible Civil Society Groups faced them, they ran away. Today, they are back.
“We will have to work with the NBA to determine their statuses first of all. We will now check their activities to see how much they conform to the ethics of the profession. And as for those who claim to be lawyers when they are not, a date with the security agents and the court await them.
“Having clarified these issues about these hirelings, we wish to reiterate that we are not against a fair investigation into the activities of Engr. Kyari. Even himself has restated his readiness to answer questions concerning his stewardship all through his decades’ long career.”