Hundreds of angry protesters on Thursday stormed the headquarters of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in Abuja, demanding a probe into what they described as a $4bn refinery fraud.
The demonstrators, under the banner of the Concerned Lawyers and Citizens Network, called for an immediate investigation into the MSM Group and its alleged link to missing funds earmarked for Nigeria’s refinery rehabilitation.
Addressing journalists, the group’s spokesman, Sambari G. Benjamin, alleged that the MSM Group was a front for laundering public funds during the tenure of Mele Kyari, former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
He claimed that despite the release of $2.896bn for the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries, none of them had been restored to functionality.
“MSM Group is not just a business; it is a vessel of money laundering, a shell of secrecy, and a front for repurposing stolen public funds,” Benjamin declared.
The protesters also questioned the source of MSM’s recent $2.4bn deal with the Kebbi State Government for a cement plant, alleging the funds mirrored money meant for refineries.
They raised further concerns about conflict of interest, citing the appointment of a former bank account officer of Kyari as a director of MSM Group.
“How did MSM Group secure $2.4bn with no prior footprint in cement? Why do these funds correspond with the missing refinery allocations? This is not coincidence. This is corruption with a family name,” Benjamin said.
The group urged the ICPC to uncover MSM’s funding sources, expose its investors and directors, and recover diverted public funds.
They insisted that those responsible must face justice regardless of their influence, vowing to sustain the protest until action was taken.
“This is about justice and restoring faith in our institutions,” Benjamin added, declaring that Nigerians would no longer be silent.
