SERAP embarks on legal offensive over NNPCL’s alleged failure to account for Nigeria’s daily oil production, revenues

A legal war has been launched against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited over its alleged failure to disclose details of Nigeria’s daily oil production, exportation and the total amounts of revenues generated from oil since the removal of subsidy on petrol in May 2023.

The legal onslaught was instituted by a Lagos-based rights group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

It is recalled that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), had recently alleged that “the NNPCL is failing to remit enough foreign exchange into the treasury despite the removal of fuel subsidy,” asking: “Where is the money?”.

In the suit designated FHC/ABJ/CS/1719/2023, and filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is seeking “An order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPCL 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.

“An order of mandamus to compel the NNPCL 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 asking for “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPCL to disclose details of payment of N11 Trillion made as subsidy payments from 1999 to May 2023, including a detailed breakdown of the payments made.”

In its legal action, SERAP is arguing that “There is a legitimate public interest in disclosing the information sought. The NNPCL has a legal responsibility to disclose the details of Nigeria’s daily oil production, exportation, and the revenues generated and remitted.”

While contending 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,” the group insisted that compelling the NNPCL to disclose these details would promote transparency and accountability in the oil sector.”

According to SERAP, “The failure by the NNPCL 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.”

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

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