Protesters Besiege ICPC, Demand Probe of MSM Group Over Missing Refinery Funds

A coalition of civil society activists on Thursday stormed the headquarters of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja, demanding an investigation into the alleged diversion of $4 billion meant for Nigeria’s refinery rehabilitation.

The demonstrators, operating under the banner of the Concerned Lawyers and Citizens Network (CLCN), alleged that the funds allocated for the revamp of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries had been mismanaged, leaving the facilities moribund despite the huge expenditure.

Speaking during the protest, CLCN spokesperson, Sambari G. Benjamin, linked the missing funds to MSM Group, a business conglomerate allegedly associated with former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engr. Mele Kolo Kyari. He claimed that about $2.896 billion earmarked for the refineries could not be accounted for.

Benjamin further accused MSM Group of being a conduit for laundering public funds, citing its sudden expansion into multiple industries, including a recent $2.4 billion partnership with the Kebbi State Government to establish a cement plant. According to him, the company lacked a track record in the sector, raising suspicion about the source of its financing.

The protesters also expressed concern over a potential conflict of interest, pointing to reports that a former bank account officer of Kyari now serves as a director at MSM Group. They criticized the company’s unwillingness to disclose details of its investors or funding sources.

“We demand that the ICPC launch a comprehensive investigation into MSM Group’s financial activities, trace its investors and directors, and establish the link between the company and the missing refinery funds,” Benjamin said. “Nigerians are suffering because of the mismanagement of public resources, and we will not relent until justice is done.”

The protesters vowed to sustain pressure on the anti-graft commission until, in their words, “every kobo is accounted for.”