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

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1 year ago

April 30, 2024

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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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Kogi: Okada riders protest over alleged police harassment, hike in levies by govt

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6 hours ago

May 5, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Commercial motorcycle riders in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, on Monday protested over alleged police harassment and hike in levies by the State Government.

The protesters barricaded parts of the popular Muritala Muhammed Way in Lokoja to register their grievances.

Addressing journalists, Chairman, Motorcycles Owners Operators of Nigeria, Lokoja Branch, Abdulrahaman Abubakar, lamented that the police and other security agencies who are supposed to protect them have been allegedly extorting their members who are doing their legitimate businesses.

He frowned at the consistent increase in the levies imposed on their members by the state government, noting that its impact is not being felt by motorcyclists in the state.

“We are tired of this harassment from the police in Lokoja. If our members are going through Felele, Zango axis or anywhere in Lokoja, the police will stop them just to collect money even though they had no case to answer.

“This is totally unfair and unacceptable. For how long are we going to continue like this? The state government must do something to put an end to this day light robbery.

“The state government on the other hand are making things worse for us. They kept increasing taxes of our members on daily basis. How much are we making that they just want to rip us off? They keep collecting much money from us without considering the implications on our families. Some of our members are riding their bikes because they collected it through hire purchase.

“Many of them can no longer meet their daily target due to over taxation. If this continues we might be forced to withdraw our services from the roads in Kogi State,” he said.

Abubakar appealed to the state government to reverse it policy so that the union can be responsible for the collection of dues from it members.

“I trust both of them and I love my wife” Man says after his wife’s ex moved in with them.

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7 hours ago

May 5, 2025

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A woman moved in with her ex-husband, current husband and their two children to save money on rent and says they all get on “amazingly.”

Megan Meyer, 25, was married to her ex-husband, police officer, Tyler, 25, for almost four years and they had a daughter, 3, before the pair split at the end of 2023.

While the divorce was being finalized, she ended up reconnecting with her high school boyfriend, Michael, 25, a laborer.

Just two months later, she fell pregnant with Michael’s baby, and the three adults decided to move to the East Coast in separate apartments, to help raise and co-parent their children.

But the three eventually decided to move in together to save on rent costs.

Megan says the dynamic with her “brother husbands” is just like any other housemate situation, with herself and Michael in the upstairs bedroom, and Tyler sleeping in the garage.

Megan, a stay-at-home mom, said: “Finances just got so unbearable — at the beginning of May [2024], I was dropping my daughter off at my ex’s place, when I asked, hesitantly, if we could all move in together.

“My current husband had been suggesting it for a while — but I kept telling him it was ‘crazy,’ and that it isn’t what people do.

“I came round to the idea of us having one place, but our own space — and to my surprise, Tyler said ‘yes.’”

Tyler said: “Some of the pros of living together include more quality time with my daughter and her getting to witness healthy relationships between us.

“There’s no awkwardness between us at all, except when we all bicker at TV time.

“My new partner is excited and wants to join the circus, she loves the dynamic and how much we’re willing to sacrifice for our kids.”

Michael said: “My parents divorced young, so I didn’t experience a complete family setting myself — but I always wished it for my own family someday.

“Even though this living situation is awkward to some, it fits us all for now.

“I feel good. My wife and her ex hurl at the sight of each other, sometimes, so I have nothing to worry about!

“I trust both of them and I love my wife with every bit of my soul.”

Rivers: NASS urges Supreme Court to dismiss PDP suit with N1bn fine

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7 hours ago

May 5, 2025

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The National Assembly has urged the Supreme Court of Nigeria to dismiss the suit filed by 11 governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

In its response, the National Assembly argued that the suit was procedurally flawed and lacked merit.

The legislative arm of the government further contended that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit and should award N1 billion in costs against the plaintiffs for filing what it termed a frivolous and speculative suit.

The National Assembly, in a preliminary objection, argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case, particularly against it, “the second defendant”.

While declaring that it holds a memorandum of conditional appearance, the National Assembly stated that due process was not followed in instituting the suit.

It stressed that the plaintiffs failed to issue the statutorily required three-month pre-action notice to the Clerk of the National Assembly, as mandated under Section 21 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017.

“A person who has a cause of action against a Legislative House shall serve a three months’ notice to the office of the Clerk of the Legislative House disclosing the cause of action and reliefs sought,” it said.

The NASS further argued that the plaintiffs did not secure resolutions from their respective State Houses of Assembly, a prerequisite for approaching the Supreme Court under its original jurisdiction provisions outlined in the Supreme Court (Original Jurisdiction) Act, 2002.