"Its War Machine”: US Urged To Probe Kyari for Allegedly Violating Sanctions On Russia Crude Oil

"Its War Machine”: US Urged To Probe Kyari for Allegedly Violating Sanctions On Russia Crude Oil

  • The NNPCL CEO, Mele Kyari, has been accused of violating sanctions on Russia by importing crude oil and petroleum products from the eastern European country
  • The Concerned Citizens on Economic Reform Nigeria (CCERN) urged the US government to probe and sanction Kyari
  • The group alleged that the proceeds from the activities were being used to promote Russian influence in West Africa

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5 years of experience covering metro and government policy

FCT, Abuja - The United States government has been called upon to investigate and sanction the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its CEO, Mele Kyari, for allegedly violating sanctions on Russian crude oil.

The Concerned Citizens on Economic Reform Nigeria (CCERN) accused Kyari of importing Russian crude oil and petroleum products above the price cap set by the Price Cap Coalition, comprising the US, G7, EU, and Australia.

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US Urged To Probe Kyari for Allegedly Violating Sanctions On Russian Crude Oil
The funds were specifically paid to make Russian flags Photo credit: @MKKyari/@POTUS
Source: Twitter

The group also names other individuals and entities allegedly involved in the violation, including Matrix Energy, Poly Pro Trading DMCC, and senior officials of NNPCL.

The group made the allegation in a letter addressed to the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and co-signed by Comrade Tijani Ibrahim and Ambassador Fatima Abubakar.

According to the statement made available to Legit.ng, the group alleged that NNPCL violated the sanctions by blending petroleum products in Malta with Russian crude oil sourced above the $60 per barrel threshold.

The group alleged that the transactions amount to over $2.08 billion, enabling Russia to earn substantial revenue to fund its war efforts.

“We found that NNPLC, in connivance with Mr Kyari's associates, has an arrangement for blending petroleum products in Malta before shipping them to Nigeria. The transaction involved in the span of the last year is quoted to be worth more than $2.08 billion, which effectively makes it possible for Russia to continue earning substantial revenue to oil its war machine”.

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The Concerned Citizens claimed that the proceeds from these illegal activities were being used to promote Russian influence in West Africa and finance anti-Western protests.

“The widespread protests during the first half of this month were in part financed with proceeds of Mr Kyari's sidestepping of the Price Cap Coalition sanctions.
“The funds were specifically paid to make Russian flags and mobilize persons displaying the flags while chanting pro-Russian and anti-West slogans.

Kyari blasted for travelling amid fuel scarcity

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Nigerians expressed their displeasure over the decision of the NNPC boss, Mele Kyari, to travel to Saudi Arabia amid fuel hikes and scarcity.

Kyari was accused of living a luxurious lifestyle while Nigerians are lamenting the unavailability of petrol.

The NNPC boss was described as being "very insensitive and careless" to the long queues Nigerians have to face before getting fuel

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Adekunle Dada avatar

Adekunle Dada (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Adekunle Dada is a trained journalist with over 7 years of working experience. He is also a Politics/Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a B.Sc. in Mass Communication From Lagos State University, Ojo. Adekunle previously worked at PM News, The Sun, and Within Nigeria where he expressed his journalistic skills with well-researched articles and features. In 2024, Adekunle obtained a certificate in advanced digital reporting from the Google News Initiative. He can be reached via adekunle.dada@corp.legit.ng.