TheCitizen - It's all about you
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
TheCitizen - It's all about you
No Result
View All Result

SERAP sues Tinubu over failure to probe missing oil revenues

The Editor by The Editor
November 5 2023
in Latest News
A A
0
SERAP sues Tinubu over failure to probe missing oil revenues
22
SHARES
734
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over his administration’s failure to probe alleged missing funds for unaccounted oil revenues and repair of refineries between 2020 and 2021.

This is contained in a statement released by the organisation’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, which was made available to PUNCH on Sunday.

The allegations are contained in the 2021 report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

Oluwadare noted that the organisation, amongst other things, seeks the court order to compel Tinubu to “direct appropriate anti-corruption agencies to probe allegations of corruption involving the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPDC) and State Owned Enterprises.”

In the suit number FHC/L/CS/2334/2023 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Tinubu to probe the allegations that US$15 billion of oil revenue, and N200 billion budgeted to repair and maintain the refineries in Nigeria are missing and unaccounted for.”

SERAP is also seeking “an order of mandamus to compel President Tinubu to direct appropriate anti-corruption agencies to probe allegations of corruption involving the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPDC) and State Owned Enterprises (SOE).”

SERAP is also seeking “an order of mandamus to compel President Tinubu to use any recovered proceeds of corruption to enhance the well-being of Nigerians.”

SERAP argues that “many years of allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the spending of oil revenues and impunity of perpetrators have undermined public trust and confidence in governments at all levels.”

In the suit, SERAP is arguing that “There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these serious allegations. Granting the reliefs sought would end the impunity of perpetrators and ensure justice for victims of corruption.”

SERAP also argues, “The allegations of corruption documented by NEITI undermine economic development of the country, trap the majority of Nigerians in poverty and deprive them of opportunities.”

According to SERAP, “Unless the President is directed and compelled to get to the bottom of these damning revelations, suspected perpetrators would continue to enjoy impunity for their crimes and enjoy the fruits of their crimes.”

SERAP also argues, “The findings by NEITI suggest a grave violation of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], national anticorruption laws, and the country’s obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption.”

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Andrew Nwankwo, and Ms Valentina Adegoke, read in part, “The Tinubu government has a constitutional duty to ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of the country’s oil wealth.”

“SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Tinubu to put in place mechanisms for accountability and transparency in the oil sector.”

“Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on the government to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution. Section 15(5) imposes the responsibility on the government to ‘abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power’ in the country.”

“Under Section 16(1) of the Constitution, the government has a responsibility to ‘secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.’”

“Section 16(2) further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.’”

“Similarly, articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on the government to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds, and to promote transparent administration of public affairs.”

“The UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption obligates the government to effectively prevent and investigate the plundering of the country’s wealth and natural resources and hold public officials and non-state actors to account for any violations.”

“Specifically, article 26 of the UN convention requires the government to ensure ‘effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions’ including criminal and non-criminal sanctions, in cases of grand corruption.”

“Article 26 complements the more general requirement of article 30, paragraph 1, that sanctions must take into account the gravity of the corruption allegations.”

“Nigeria is also a participating state of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which aims to foster greater governmental accountability for the use of natural resource wealth through the creation of a set of international norms on revenue transparency.”

“EITI also aims to tackle corruption, poverty, and conflict associated with natural resource wealth. Nigeria has the obligations to implement the EITI Standard, which sets out the transparency norms with which participating States including Nigeria must comply.”

“According to the 2021 report by NEITI, government agencies including the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NNPC) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPDC) failed to remit $13.591 million and $8.251 billion to the public treasury.”

“The NNPC and NPDC failed to remit over 70% of these public funds. NEITI wants both the NNPC and NPDC to be investigated, and for the missing public funds to be fully recovered.”

“The report also shows that in 2021, the State Owned Enterprises (SOE) and its subsidiaries (the NNPC Group) reportedly spent US$ 6.931 billion on behalf of the Federal Government but without appropriation by the National Assembly. The money may be missing.”

“The NNPC also reportedly obtained a loan of $3 billion in 2012 purportedly to settle subsidy payments due to petroleum product marketers but there is no disclosure of the details of the loan, subsidy, and the beneficiaries of the payments.”

“The report also shows that N9.73 billion was paid to the NNPC as pipeline transportation revenue earned from Joint Venture operations but the money was neither remitted to the Federation nor properly accounted for.  The NPDC in 2021 also failed to remit $7.61 million realized from the sale of crude oil.”

“The report documents that about N200 billion was spent on ‘refineries rehabilitation’ between 2020 and 2021 but ‘none of the refineries was operational in 2021 despite the spending.’ NEITI wants the spending to be investigated, as the money may be missing.”

Joined in the suit as Respondent is Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Share9Tweet6
Previous Post

Police rescue ex-INEC worker from kidnappers

Next Post

Diezani asks for prayers to ward off bribery allegations

Related Posts

Tinubu swears in Amupitan as new INEC Chairman
Latest News

Tinubu swears in Amupitan as new INEC Chairman

October 23 2025
Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers withdraw from case
Headlines

Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers withdraw from case

October 23 2025
Police arrest Sowore in court at Kanu’s trial
Headlines

Police arrest Sowore in court at Kanu’s trial

October 23 2025
Police officer in custody for shooting moving vehicle in Delta
Latest News

Police officer in custody for shooting moving vehicle in Delta

October 23 2025
FG refutes ECOWAS report alleging ISWAP money laundering through Nigerian banks
Headlines

South West, North Central states on high alert over ISWAP attack threats

October 23 2025
Foreign agents not needed to fight bandits, says Kebbi Governor
Governance

Foreign agents not needed to fight bandits, says Kebbi Governor

October 23 2025
Next Post
Diezani asks for prayers to ward off bribery allegations

Diezani asks for prayers to ward off bribery allegations

First flight lands at new Anambra airport

Furore as 15 states spend N301bn on ‘unprofitable’ airports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FROM THE GRASSROOTS

Oil production: Kogi State demands 13% derivation fund

Kogi fixes October 17, 2026 for LG poll

by The Editor
October 23 2025
0

...

ALGON orders Edo council officials to wear Tinubu’s signature caps

ALGON orders Edo council officials to wear Tinubu’s signature caps

by The Editor
October 18 2025
0

...

Olubadan unveils legal committee to tackle land grabbing

Olubadan unveils legal committee to tackle land grabbing

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

...

Birnin Gwari needs urgent federal intervention – Emir tells Tinubu

Birnin Gwari needs urgent federal intervention – Emir tells Tinubu

by The Editor
October 13 2025
0

...

APPOINTMENTS

Tinubu seeks Omidiran, 28 others’ confirmation as FCC members

Tinubu seeks Omidiran, 28 others’ confirmation as FCC members

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

...

Okpebholo swears in 19 commissioners, warns against corruption

Okpebholo swears in 19 commissioners, warns against corruption

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

...

Fubara drops Danagogo, appoints Anabraba as Rivers SSG

Fubara drops Danagogo, appoints Anabraba as Rivers SSG

by The Editor
October 13 2025
0

...

Savannah Energy signs agreement with Chadian govt for new renewable energy projects

Savannah Energy announces board changes, appoints two Nigerians as Independent Non-Executive Directors

by The Editor
October 9 2025
0

...

ODDITIES

Kano Court orders Hisbah to marry off TikTokers over ‘indecent’ videos

Kano Court orders Hisbah to marry off TikTokers over ‘indecent’ videos

by The Editor
October 20 2025
0

Teenager plucks sister’s eyes for ritual in Bauchi

Teenager plucks sister’s eyes for ritual in Bauchi

by The Editor
October 20 2025
0

Lagos to probe school over alleged sodomy

Father impregnates 15-year-old daughter in Ondo

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

GLOBAL NEWS

US govt justifies sending migrants to South Sudan

Trump heads to Asia, eyes major trade, peace deals

by The Editor
October 23 2025
0

...

Madagascar coup leader appoints businessman as new prime minister

Madagascar coup leader appoints businessman as new prime minister

by The Editor
October 20 2025
0

...

Madagascar’s military leader swears in as president

Madagascar’s military leader swears in as president

by The Editor
October 18 2025
0

...

Trump, Putin to meet in Budapest over Ukraine war

Trump, Putin to meet in Budapest over Ukraine war

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

...

2026 Hajj: Saudi govt approves 66,910 slots for Nigeria

2026 Hajj: Saudi govt approves 66,910 slots for Nigeria

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

...

State of the States

Oyo denies introduction of entertainment tax on social events

Oyo denies introduction of entertainment tax on social events

by The Editor
October 23 2025
0

...

Okpebholo swears in 19 commissioners, warns against corruption

Okpebholo slams Obaseki’s refusal to swear in Edo judges

by The Editor
October 23 2025
0

...

Cross River APC endorses Otu, deputy for 2027 election

Cross River govt shuts 36 illegal schools

by The Editor
October 23 2025
0

...

Aiyedatiwa clears Ondo two-year gratuity backlog

Aiyedatiwa clears Ondo two-year gratuity backlog

by The Editor
October 20 2025
0

...

Plugin Install : Widget Tab Post needs JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Oyo denies introduction of entertainment tax on social events

Oyo denies introduction of entertainment tax on social events

October 23 2025
FG opens applications for Jubilee Fellowship to create 20,000 jobs

FG opens applications for Jubilee Fellowship to create 20,000 jobs

October 23 2025
Northern PDP endorse Turaki as consensus candidate for chairmanship

Northern PDP endorse Turaki as consensus candidate for chairmanship

October 23 2025
Okpebholo swears in 19 commissioners, warns against corruption

Okpebholo slams Obaseki’s refusal to swear in Edo judges

October 23 2025

EDITORIAL REVIEW

Beyond words: Nigeria needs a new plan against terror – Guardian

Beyond words: Nigeria needs a new plan against terror – Guardian

by The Editor
October 23 2025
0

Kwara govt plans mass burial for unclaimed corpses

Curbing the expansion of terrorism into Kwara – Punch

by The Editor
October 23 2025
0

Invest in vocational, technical education – Punch

Invest in vocational, technical education – Punch

by The Editor
October 20 2025
0

End female genital mutilation – Punch

End female genital mutilation – Punch

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

Nnaji: Nigeria’s dodgy vetting processes – Punch

Nnaji: Nigeria’s dodgy vetting processes – Punch

by The Editor
October 16 2025
0

Opinion

Dear Senator Tinubu, Buhari has thrashed us all!

If a coup happens in Nigeria, who will fight for democracy?

by The Editor
October 23 2025
0

...

Tinubu finds his own demons

Next time, Umahi should go to NTA

by The Editor
October 16 2025
0

...

Objections over presidential pardon for grave offenders

Objections over presidential pardon for grave offenders

by The Editor
October 13 2025
0

...

1975 public service purge: What have we learnt?

1975 public service purge: What have we learnt?

by The Editor
September 30 2025
0

...

Plugin Install : Popular Post Widget need JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials

© 2024 TheCitizen Ng. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials

© 2024 TheCitizen Ng. All Rights Reserved.