A coalition of concerned Nigerian citizens has urged the United States government to investigate and impose sanctions on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its CEO, Mele Kyari, for allegedly breaching international sanctions on Russian crude oil.
In a formal petition submitted to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the group, known as Concerned Citizens on Economic Reform Nigeria (CCERN), accuses NNPCL of importing Russian crude oil and petroleum products at prices exceeding the $60 per barrel cap set by the Price Cap Coalition, which includes the United States, the G7, the European Union, and Australia.
The petition, co-signed by Comrade Tijani Ibrahim and Ambassador Fatima Abubakar, alleges that NNPCL has been blending Russian crude oil, purchased above the price cap, with petroleum products in Malta. The total value of these transactions reportedly exceeds $2.08 billion, enabling Russia to fund its military efforts in Ukraine.
The coalition’s investigation revealed that NNPCL, in collaboration with Kyari’s associates, has been involved in these transactions, which reportedly have broader geopolitical implications. They claim the proceeds are being used to finance Russian influence in West Africa and support anti-Western protests.
The petition calls for OFAC to urgently investigate Kyari, other NNPCL staff, and related entities, including Matrix Energy and Poly Pro Trading DMCC, to prevent further sanctions violations and safeguard global interests.
The petition emphasizes that the alleged actions pose a threat to regional stability and undermine both Nigerian and U.S. interests by potentially enhancing Russia’s influence in West Africa.