By Nnasom David

A coalition of Nigerian professionals under the banner of the Young Professionals Forum of Nigeria on Thursday staged a peaceful demonstration at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja.

They however called on the Kingdom to deny entry and consider the deportation of the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari.

Led by the group’s Convener, Barr. Sambari Benjamin, and Organizing Secretary, Comrade John Ndubuokwu, the protest drew over 1,000 participants comprising lawyers, engineers, medical doctors, artisans and other professionals. The demonstrators submitted a petition to the embassy, urging the Saudi government to cooperate with Nigerian authorities in light of ongoing anti-corruption investigations.

“We are here today out of deep concern that Mallam Mele Kyari may attempt to use the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a safe haven, in the face of ongoing investigations by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies,” said Barr. Sambari while addressing journalists.

According to the group, preliminary investigations into Kyari’s activities have reportedly commenced at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

“In our considered opinion, allowing him to enter or remain in Saudi Arabia at this time may undermine the spirit of justice and accountability both our nations uphold,” Sambari stated.

The group’s petition expressed fears that Kyari may be in Saudi Arabia already or planning to flee there, which they described as a strategic choice aimed at avoiding extradition or legal scrutiny.

In the letter submitted to the embassy, the group appealed to the Kingdom’s moral and religious values, urging it not to “provide cover for individuals facing serious allegations of economic wrongdoing.”

“We ask the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as a respected member of the international community and a leader in the global fight against corruption, to take a principled stance by denying any visa, asylum request, or entry application submitted by Mallam Kyari under any guise,” the group said.

They further urged Saudi authorities to collaborate with Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies to ensure transparency and cross-border accountability.

Although Mele Kyari has yet to publicly respond to the group’s claims, the protest comes amid growing public discourse around transparency in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. Similar calls for accountability were echoed last week during a demonstration by Nigerians in the United Kingdom outside the Nigerian House in London.

The Saudi embassy has not issued an official response to the protest or the submitted petition as of the time of filing this report.