Concerned Citizens Against Corruption (CCAC) has formally withdrawn its petition against former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari.
It said its decision to withdraw the petition was because either released that its earlier allegations were based on misinformation and premature conclusions.
Recall that the group had organised a nationwide protest on 23rd April, 2025 demanding an investigation into Kyari’s tenure.
However, the Convener of the group, Kabir Matazu, while addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja acknowledged that its actions were “hasty, premature, and lacking in facts.”
He added that the initial campaign of the group against Kyari was driven by a “limited understanding” of NNPCL’s operational framework under his leadership.
Matazu added: “Despite our patriotic intentions to promote accountability, we acted without full knowledge of the facts. No amount of apology can undo the damage caused by our errors, but we must set the record straight.”
The group also retracted its claim of an improper crude oil deal involving Matrix Energy.
It emphasised that NNPCL, as a limited liability company, is legally empowered to enter into commercial agreements, and there was nothing untoward about the transactions under Kyari’s watch.
“NNPCL is statutorily authorised to engage in such deals, and any concerns should be addressed through proper regulatory channels, not sensationalised protests,” the group conceded.
While retracting its petition, the CCAC insisted that the move does not signify an abandonment of its anti-corruption mandate, it however, vowed to exercise greater caution in future engagements to avoid being weaponised by political interests.
“We remain committed to holding public officials accountable, but we must also acknowledge when we err. Targeting an innocent man helps no one. We shall be more scrupulous moving forward,” it said.