SOCIO-ECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the federal government of Nigeria at the Federal High Court in Lagos over failure to probe over $15 billion oil revenue and N200 billion alleged budget to fix refineries between 2020 and 2021.
The claims are contained in the 2021 report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). Joined in the suit as respondent is the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
In the suit numbered FHC/L/CS/2334/2023 and filed at the weekend, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel Tinubu to probe the allegations that $15 billion of oil revenue and N200 billion budgeted to repair and the refineries were reportedly missing.
It also sought an order of mandamus to compel the President to direct appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate the state-owned agencies in the industry.
In the suit, the organisation is arguing that there is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for the allegations.
According to SERAP, unless the President probes the claims, impunity would prevail in the polity. Filed by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Andrew Nwankwo and Valentina Adegoke, the case maintained that the findings by 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.”
SERAP is equally seeking an order of mandamus to compel Tinubu to put in place mechanisms for accountability and transparency in the oil sector.
No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.
