The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu, claiming that his administration has not taken action to reverse the rise in petrol pump prices.
In a statement released on Sunday, SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare announced that the organization has initiated legal action against the President for not investigating allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The suit also includes the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, as well as the NNPCL as respondents.
The lawsuit, designated FHC/ABJ/CS/1361/2024, was submitted last Friday to the Federal High Court in Abuja.
SERAP is seeking a court order to “compel President Tinubu to instruct the NNPCL to revert the unjust, illegal, unconstitutional, and unreasonable increase in petrol prices from N845 per litre to N600 per litre.” The organization also requested that the court “compel President Tinubu to direct Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, along with relevant anti-corruption agencies, to investigate the allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the NNPC.” Additionally, SERAP aims to obtain an order to compel President Tinubu to direct Fagbemi and the appropriate anti-corruption agencies to prosecute anyone found to be responsible for the alleged corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL.
“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.”
