The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over the alleged failure to investigate the disappearance of over US$15 billion in oil revenues and N200 billion budgeted for refinery repairs in Nigeria between 2020 and 2021.
These allegations were reported in the 2021 Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) report.
In the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus to compel President Tinubu to investigate these allegations and to direct relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate corruption involving the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC) and State Owned Enterprises (SOE).
The organisation also seeks an order to ensure that any recovered proceeds of corruption are used for the benefit of Nigerians.
SERAP argues that there is a legitimate public interest in ensuring accountability and justice for these allegations and that granting these reliefs would end the impunity of perpetrators and provide justice for the victims of corruption.
The organization believes that the allegations of corruption documented by NEITI have undermined the country’s economic development, trapped many Nigerians in poverty, and deprived them of opportunities.
The suit emphasises the need for the government to comply with the Nigerian Constitution, national anti-corruption laws, and international obligations such as the UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.
SERAP points out that Nigeria is a participating state of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which aims to foster greater governmental accountability and transparency in resource wealth management.
The NEITI report documented various instances where funds were not remitted to the public treasury, expenditures were not properly accounted for, and funds budgeted for refinery rehabilitation did not lead to operational refineries.
The lawsuit aims to compel President Tinubu to address these issues and ensure transparency and accountability in the oil sector.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, is also named as a respondent in the suit.
No hearing date has been set for the lawsuit.
Source: The Sun Newspaper