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SERAP Urges Court To Compel NNPCL To Account For Missing Oil Revenues

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged a Federal High Court in Abuja to order the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to account for the alleged missing $2.04 billion and N164 billion oil revenues.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/549/2024, which is yet to be assigned to a judge, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPCL to account for and explain the whereabouts of the missing oil revenues, as documented in a report by the Auditor-General.

The civil society organisation is also asking the court for an order of mandamus to compel the defendant to hand over suspected perpetrators to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation and prosecution.

The plaintiff is seeking an order of mandamus to compel the NNPC to ensure the full recovery and remittance of the missing revenue into the Federation Account.

In an affidavit attached to the suit, SERAP averred that there is a legitimate public interest in providing the details sought because the NNPCL has a legal responsibility to account for, and explain the whereabouts of the disappeared money.

The plaintiff argued that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.

It also submitted that Section 16(2) of the Constitution further provides that ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.

SERAP also insisted that Section 13 of the 1999 Constitution imposes a clear responsibility on the NNPCL to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.

It further argued that paragraph 3112(ii) of the Financial Regulations 2009 provides that, ‘Where a public officer fails to account for government revenue, such officer shall be surcharged for the total amount involved and such officer shall be handed over to either the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The plaintiff further stated that Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources saying Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention also imposes legal obligations on the NNPCL to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds.

The organisation, therefore, called on the court to compel the defendant to uphold and respect these commitments.

SERAP also maintained that the missing oil revenues have further damaged the already precarious economy in the country and contributed to high levels of deficit spending by the government.

The plaintiff also argued that without the full recovery and remittance of the missing USD$2.04 billion and N164 billion oil revenues, the dire economic situation may worsen, and Nigerians will continue to be denied access to basic public goods and services.

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FLASHBACK: “Jonathan Is A Drunk, A Sinking Fisherman”— Tinubu’s Past Insults On Jonathan Resurfaces As Police Begin Crackdown On Citizens Criticizing Govt Officials

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December 22, 2024

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Tinubu mustered the temerity to call the President of Nigeria a drunkard, a sinking fisherman. This was how Tinubu put it: “I think the President is wrong because that is an insult to our parents. It is a speech from a drunk sailor fisherman whose boat is about to capsize.

As Nigerian authorities begin a controversial clampdown on citizens criticizing government officials on social media, an old episode from the country’s political history has resurfaced, bringing to light the sharp rhetoric of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his time as Lagos State Governor.   Tinubu mustered the temerity to call the President of Nigeria a drunkard, a sinking fisherman. This was how Tinubu put it: “I think the President is wrong because that is an insult to our parents. It is a speech from a drunk sailor fisherman whose boat is about to capsize.

Another Man Arrested for Insulting Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, As Police Begin Crack Down on Nigerians Insulting Politicians on Social Media   In a flashback to 2011, Tinubu, then the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), launched a verbal assault on then-President Goodluck Jonathan, describing him as a “drunk sailor fisherman” whose “boat is about to capsize.” Tinubu’s comments came in reaction to a statement made by Jonathan at a campaign rally in Ibadan, where the President had referred to the need to rescue the Southwest from the hands of “rascals.”   Tinubu, speaking at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on his way to Abuja for an ACN campaign event, called Jonathan’s remarks an insult to Yoruba parents. “You don’t come to this land, seek our votes, and then insult our parents, saying they raised rascals,” Tinubu said. “It is a speech from a drunk sailor fisherman whose boat is about to capsize.”

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Fraudsters move to defraud home-bound Imo residents in Lagos

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December 22, 2024

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GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE

PRESS RELEASE

Fraudsters move to defraud home-bound Imo residents in Lagos

A group of persons believed to be fraudsters, and poised to take advantage of the massive return of Imo indigenes resident in Lagos for the Yuletide, has devised devious means to defraud the unsuspected ones among them in the guise of providing them with free transportation from Lagos to Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu.

To make their devilish intention look real, they have raised a press statement they purport was issued from my office for such a project.

In their warped imagination, they have deliberately fixed December 24, 2024 and January 4, 2025, as the days their prey and unsuspecting home-bound Lagos residents should approach them for a trip back home and return trip back to Lagos respectively.

Below is part of their poorly written press statement:

“The buses are free for Imolites from *Lagos to Imo State on *24th December* and back to Lagos on *4th January* .

“Interested persons should please call *(ISTDAL)* *08033255565, 08092362966* or *07089303866* for seats reservation.

“Please the buses are free and is on first come accreditation bases, once the seats are fully booked, the registration closes, ( *_PLS DO NOT PAY ANYBODY ONE KOBO_)*

“Please the buses are *NOT LUXURY BUSES* , so only passengers with a small sizable luggages will be allowed. (no big boxes or load is allowed).

“The buses will leave on *Tuesday 24th December* at exactly *7.15am* to *Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu.*

“The departure point will be made available after your registration, *(if you are not captured on accreditation, pls don’t bother coming as only accreditated passengers are allowed)* and please indicate your direction.

“*Note: the bus will not stop or drop any passenger until it passes Ihiala unto Imo State.*

“Thanks and best regards.”

For the avoidance of doubt, the Office of the Chief Press Secretary/Special Adviser Media to the Governor did not issue any statement on the trending fraudulent travel plan.

The statement is both false and deceptive, and could not have emanated from the government.

Therefore, the general public, and particularly Imolites who live in Lagos and any other part of the country and who intend to be home for the Yuletide should not take the statement and the authors seriously as they will be doing so at their own peril.

Please, be properly guided.

Oguwike Nwachuku
Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the Governor
December 22, 2024.

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For inside Delta Staati: Meet efe money wey k!dnap him Friend con bęhe*d that he friend, b*ry the he*d for shr!ne and were still collecting money from the boy family wey him kee

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December 22, 2024

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Meet efe money wey k!dnap him Friend con bęhe*d that he friend, b*ry the he*d for shr!ne and were still collecting money from the boy family wey him kee

The person wey the Mr Efe kee so na him t!ght friend, na destiny helper to efe. The person wey efe kee so give efe all the access to heąd over hís invęstments.

Nothing this very guy dey do wey him no dey tell this ev!l boy called Efe.

Na the guy he*d Mr Efe hoļd for hand so when police go remøve the he*d for where Efe bųřy am pųt.

 

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