The Socio-Financial Rights and Accountability Mission (SERAP) has urged a Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja to order the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm (NNPC) Restricted to account for the alleged lacking $2.04 billion and N164 billion oil revenues.
Within the swimsuit quantity FHC/ABJ/CS/549/2024, which is but to be assigned to a choose, SERAP is looking for an order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPCL to account for and clarify the whereabouts of the lacking oil revenues, as documented in a report by the Auditor-Common.
The civil society organisation can be asking the court docket for an order of mandamus to compel the defendant handy over suspected perpetrators to the Unbiased Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Fee (ICPC) and the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) for investigation and prosecution.
The plaintiff is looking for an order of mandamus to compel the NNPC to make sure the total restoration and remittance of the lacking income into the Federation Account.
In an affidavit connected to the swimsuit, SERAP averred that there’s a authentic public curiosity in offering the small print sought as a result of the NNPCL has a obligation to account for, and clarify the whereabouts of the disappeared cash.
The plaintiff argued that Part 15(5) of the Nigerian Structure 1999 (as amended) requires public establishments to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of energy.
It additionally submitted that Part 16(2) of the Structure additional supplies that ‘the fabric assets of the nation are harnessed and distributed as finest as potential to serve the widespread good.
SERAP additionally insisted that Part 13 of the 1999 Structure imposes a transparent duty on the NNPCL to adapt to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the structure.
It additional argued that paragraph 3112(ii) of the Monetary Laws 2009 supplies that, ‘The place a public officer fails to account for presidency income, such officer shall be surcharged for the overall quantity concerned and such officer shall be handed over to both the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) or the Unbiased Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Fee (ICPC).
The plaintiff additional said that Nigeria has made legally binding commitments beneath the UN Conference towards Corruption to make sure accountability within the administration of public assets saying Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Conference additionally imposes authorized obligations on the NNPCL to make sure correct administration of public affairs and public funds.
The organisation, due to this fact, referred to as on the court docket to compel the defendant to uphold and respect these commitments.
SERAP additionally maintained that the lacking oil revenues have additional broken the already precarious financial system within the nation and contributed to excessive ranges of deficit spending by the federal government.
The plaintiff additionally argued that with out the total restoration and remittance of the lacking USD$2.04 billion and N164 billion oil revenues, the dire financial state of affairs could worsen, and Nigerians will proceed to be denied entry to primary public items and providers.