The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued President Bola Tinubu, demanding a decrease in petrol prices from N845 to N600 per litre....READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
The organisation is suing the president for failing to order the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to stop the increase in the price of petrol at the pump in a suit filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja under the file number FHC/ABJ/CS/1361/2024.
The suit filed by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, the lawyer for SERAP tackles the national oil firm’s alleged failure to look into claims of mismanagement and corruption.
The NNPCL, Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, are listed as respondents in the document, which was made available to PUNCH.
SERAP makes demand
SERAP is asking the court “to compel President Tinubu to direct the NNPCL to reverse the unjust, illegal, unconstitutional, and unreasonable increase in the price of petrol from N845 per litre to N600 per litre,”
Additionally, it is pleading with the president to order the AGF and other anti-corruption organisations to look into the claims of wrongdoing and corruption inside the NNPC.
The organisation notes that the rise in petrol prices is causing great hardship for Nigerians and calls for the prosecution of anyone suspected of being accountable for the alleged corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL, provided there is sufficient admissible evidence. It also calls for the recovery of any proceeds of corruption.
Human right fundamentally violated
SERAP stated in its statement that the country’s international human rights obligations and constitutional safeguards are fundamentally violated by the rise in gas prices.
It further stated that illegal and recurrent increases in gasoline prices are the result of corruption in the oil industry and a lack of accountability and transparency in the use of public funds to support NNPC operations.
It added
“Increasing petrol prices at a time when millions of Nigerians face worsening economic conditions is entirely inconsistent with constitutional and international obligations to ensure minimum living conditions compatible with human dignity.”
The development occured after SERAP learned that the NNPCL has raised the price of premium motor spirit (PMS) at all of its retail locations. From roughly N600 per litre, the price increased to N855 per litre, sometimes even surpassing N900.
It added
“The apparent unlawful increase in petrol prices followed a scarcity caused by suppliers’ reported refusal to import petroleum products for the NNPCL over a $6 billion debt.
“The NNPC allegedly failed to remit USD 2.04 billion and N164 billion of oil revenues into the public treasury, as documented in the recently published 2020 annual report by the Auditor-General of the Federation,” among other issues.
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has started lifting PMS also known as petrol, from Dangote Refinery today, Sunday, 15 September 2024.
On Saturday, the national oil company announced that at least 300 trucks are stationed at the Lekki, Lagos refinery.
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The head of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has urged African business leaders to go beyond discussion and instead focus on decisive action and real results.
Speaking at the African Renaissance retreat in Rwanda, Dangote stated that although the continent faces many difficulties, its youthful population and plenty of resources present prospects for big and inclusive growth.
Africa is going through a major historical turning point, according to the billionaire businessman.
