September 15, (THEWILL) – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over “failure to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reverse the apparently unlawful increase in the pump price of petrol, and to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL”.
Joined in the suit as Respondents are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the NNPC Ltd.
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1361/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP prayed 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.
“Direct Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, including the spending of the reported $300 million ‘bailout funds’ collected from the Federal Government in August 2024, and the $6 billion debt it owes suppliers, despite allegedly failing to remit oil revenues to the treasury.
“Compel President Tinubu to direct Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to prosecute anyone suspected to be responsible for the alleged corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and to recover any proceeds of corruption.”
In its supportive affidavit, SERAP contended that: “The increase in petrol price is causing immense hardship to those less well-off. As the economic situation in Nigeria deteriorates, the increase is pushing people further into poverty.
“Holding the NNPC to account for alleged corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector would serve legitimate public interests.”
Filed on its behalf by lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, the suit reads in part: “The increase in petrol price constitutes a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country’s international human rights obligations.
“Corruption in the oil sector and the lack of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds to support the operations of the NNPC have resulted in persistent and unlawful hikes in petrol prices.
“Increasing petrol prices at a time when millions of Nigerians continue to face worsening economic conditions is entirely inconsistent with constitutional and international obligations to ensure the minimum living conditions compatible with human dignity.
“The arbitrary increase has placed a disproportionate burden on the marginalised and most vulnerable sectors of society, particularly those disadvantaged by poverty.
“The increase is seriously jeopardising their living conditions, as well as individuals’ physical, emotional, and individual development, and intensifying and worsening socio-economic conditions in the country.
“The increase constitutes a serious human rights problem because of the intensity with which it undermines the enjoyment and exercise by Nigerians of their human rights and renders their civic participation illusory.
“The fundamental right to life includes not only the right of every Nigerian not to be deprived of his/her life arbitrarily, but also the right that he/she will not be prevented from having access to the conditions that guarantee a dignified existence.
“The growing poverty and inequality in the country has continued to adversely affect the right of Nigerians to participatory democracy, and impede their ability to participate in their own government.”
THEWILL had reported that the NNPC jerked up the pump price of petrol from N617 to N897 per litre. The price increase came amid a scarcity of fuel across the country.
While the national oil company said petrol price is determined by global market forces, SERAP had in an open letter dated September 7, 2024, stated that: “The increase in petrol price constitutes a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country’s international human rights obligations. Nigerians have for far too long been denied justice and the opportunity to get to the bottom of why they continue to pay the price for corruption in the oil sector.”
It urged President Tinubu to use his “leadership position and good offices to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets”.
