NEWS
SERAP Files Lawsuit Against NNPC
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against the NNPC Limited, pressing for details on Nigeria’s oil production, exports, and revenue post-subsidy removal in May 2023.
Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s Deputy Director, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, ex-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, recently accused the NNPC of inadequate foreign exchange remittance to the treasury post-fuel subsidy removal.
He posed the question, “Where is the money?”
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1719/2023 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPC to disclose details of barrels of oil Nigeria produces and exports daily and the total amounts of revenues generated since the removal of subsidy on petrol.”
SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to compel the NNPC to disclose how much of the revenues generated from the production and exportation of oil have been remitted to the public treasury since the removal of subsidy on petrol.”
SERAP is also seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPC to disclose details of payment of 11 Trillion Naira made as subsidy payments from 1999 to May 2023, including a detailed breakdown of the payments made.”
In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “There is a legitimate public interest in disclosing the information sought. The NNPC has a legal responsibility to disclose the details of Nigeria’s daily oil production, exportation and the revenues generated and remitted.”
SERAP is also arguing that, “Nigerians have the right to know the amounts of barrels of oil the country produces and exports daily, the revenues generated and remitted to the public treasury.” Compelling the NNPC to disclose these details would promote transparency and accountability in the oil sector.”
According to SERAP, “The failure by the NNPC to disclose the information sought is a grave violation of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
SERAP is arguing that, “Transparency would ensure that the revenues generated from Nigeria’s daily oil production and exportation are not diverted into private pockets, and increase public confidence that the revenues would be used to benefit Nigerians.”
In the lawsuit filed by SERAP’s lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, it was stated, “Nigeria’s daily oil production, exportation and the revenues generated have been mostly shrouded in secrecy.
“Disclosing the amounts of barrels of oil the country produces and exports daily, the revenues generated and remitted to the public treasury would also ensure that the NNPC operates within the law.
“Transparency and accountability in the amounts of barrels of oil the country produces and exports daily, the revenues generated and remitted to the public treasury would improve the enjoyment by Nigerians of their right to natural wealth and resources.
“The public interest in publishing the information sought outweighs any considerations to withhold the information.
“Despite the country’s enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption, and the culture of impunity of perpetrators.”
“Combating the corruption epidemic in the oil sector would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services, and enhance the ability of the government to meet its human rights and anti-corruption obligations.”
“Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) requires public institutions and officials to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 16(2) of the Nigerian Constitution further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed to serve the common good.’”
“Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 imposes clear responsibility on the NNPCL to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.”
“Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.”
“Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on the NNPCL to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds. These commitments ought to be fully upheld and respected.”
“Nigerians are entitled to the right to receive information without any interference or distortion, and the enjoyment of this right should be based on the principle of maximum disclosure, and a presumption that all information is accessible subject only to a narrow system of exceptions.”
“By Section 1 (1) of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act 2011, SERAP is entitled as of right to request for or gain access to information, including information on the details of barrels of oil Nigeria produces and exports every day and the total amounts of revenues generated and remitted to the public treasury.”
“According to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, ‘It is only the NNPCL that can give the figures about how much oil we produce daily, how much we sell, and where the money is going. We are no longer paying subsidies so where are the dollars? Where is the money?’”
“The NNPCL has a legal responsibility to promote transparency and accountability in the country’s daily oil production, exportation and the revenues generated and remitted to the public treasury. The NNPLC also has a legal responsibility to disclose details of payment of N11 trillion subsidy.”
A specific date for the suit’s hearing has not yet been scheduled.
NEWS
Fubara’s Allies In Rivers Assembly Confirm Iboroma As Commissioner
In the midst of political tensions, the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara has conducted the screening and confirmation of legal expert Dagogo Israel Iboroma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the Commissioner-designate.
Led by Speaker Victor Oko Jumbo, the faction endorsed Commissioner-nominee Dagogo Iboroma on Monday, within the Chambers of the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt.
Iboroma is poised to assume the role of Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, succeeding Professor Zaccheus Adangor SAN, who resigned upon his redeployment to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s office) two weeks ago.
According to report, Iboroma received an invitation on Sunday, signed by Dr. G.M. Gills-West, the Clerk of the House, summoning him for screening as the Commissioner nominee and potential member of the Rivers State Executive Council.
Recall that last week, Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, a factional Speaker aligned with Governor Fubara, was elected after Governor Fubara asserted that the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers, loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital, ceased to be Rivers State lawmakers in the eyes of the law following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Observers speculate that Governor Fubara is pushing forward to instigate governance activities, with more Commissioner nominees expected to undergo screening by the Victor Oko Jumbo-led three-man Lawmakers.
However, our correspondent highlights that the invitation for screening is already stirring controversies.
In a Facebook post by lawyer Oraye St Franklyn, he raised various legal issues.
NEWS
I Was Offered Bribe To Remove Fubara, Says Ex-Rivers Speaker
Former Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker, Edison Ehie has revealed that he was offered money to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ehie, now serving as Chief of Staff to the governor, was previously the majority leader when the first attempt to impeach Fubara took place.
Along with a few others, he opposed the move, leading to a split from the lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ehie later became the speaker of the faction, which disbanded after President Bola Tinubu intervened and a peace accord was signed between the Wike and Fubara camps.
The peace efforts faltered shortly thereafter, and the two factions resumed their conflict.
Speaking at an event in Ahoada East area of Rivers State over the weekend, Ehie reiterated that he was offered money to oust the governor.
While he didn’t reveal the identities of those behind the offer, he affirmed that he declined it.
He said “They invited me, your son, to impeach the governor and I told them clearly, I was not interested. They gave me all the money that was hidden before, which I rejected. And because I refused, they conspired and declared me wanted.”
Recall that in 2023, the police declared the Chief of Staff wanted in connection with the invasion of the State House of Assembly.
Also, in October 2023, an explosion rocked the state assembly building amidst reports of lawmakers attempting to impeach Fubara.
The lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule reportedly lodged criminal complaints against Ehie with the Rivers State Police Command over the invasion and arson of the Rivers State House of Assembly chambers by unidentified hoodlums.
NEWS
Tariff Hike: NLC President Leads Protest In Abuja [Video]
Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led a raucous protest at the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) headquarters in Abuja against the recent spike in electricity tariffs on Monday.
According to report, protesters, including workers from the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), forcefully entered the NERC complex on Monday.
Workers, supported by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, besieged various electricity distribution company offices in defiance of the Band A tariff increase.
This nationwide agitation, sparked by the Federal Government’s removal of subsidies and tariff adjustments, threatened to paralyze key power sector institutions including NERC’s Abuja headquarters, the Ministry of Power, and state distribution company offices.
Recall that NERC’s had April 3, announced the electricity tariffs hike for Band A customers from N68/kWh to N225 per kilowatt-hour.
See video below: