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 increase in the pump price of petrol.
Joined in the suit as respondents are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the NNPCL
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1361/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, 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.
SERAP is also asking the court “to compel President Tinubu to direct 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.”
SERAP is asking the court to compel President Tinubu to direct 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 the suit, SERAP is arguing 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.”
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), also reads in part: “The increase in petrol price constitutes a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country’s international human rights obligations.
No date has, however, been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
