NNPCL Probe/Petrol Price Hike: SERAP embarks on legal offensive against Tinubu


A legal action has been initiated against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over alleged failure to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reverse the increase in the pump price of petrol and to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL.

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

Respondents in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the NNPCL.

SERAP in its suit designated FHC/ABJ/CS/1361/2024, filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja 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.”

Furthermore, the human rights organisation is urging the court, “To compel President Tinubu to 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.

“To 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 contention before the court, SERAP stated 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, read 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 hike 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 socioeconomic 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.”

As of the time of filing this report, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

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