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SERAP sues Tinubu over failure to direct NNPCL to reverse ‘unlawful’ petrol price hike

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a fresh lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over his failure to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), to reverse what it calls the ‘unlawful petrol price hike” as well as his failure to probe allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL.

Also joined in the suit as respondents are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, and the NNPCL.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1361/2024 filed on Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the advocacy group said it 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.”

In the suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), SERAP said it is also asking the court to compel President Tinubu to direct Fagbemi 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.

SERAP is asking the court “to compel President Tinubu to direct Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anticorruption 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.”

Details of the lawsuit reads 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 NNPCL 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 marginalized and most vulnerable sectors of society, particularly those disadvantaged by poverty.

“The increase is seriously jeopardizing 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.”

“The growing poverty and inequality in the country has continued to adversely affect the right of Nigerians to participatory democracy, and impede their ability to participate in their own government.

“Nigerians have for far too long been denied justice and the opportunity to get to the bottom of why they continue to pay the price for corruption in the oil sector. The increase in petrol price has rendered already impoverished citizens incapable of satisfying their minimum needs for survival.

“The increase is not inevitable, as it stems from the persistent failure of successive governments to address the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector and the impunity of suspected perpetrators.

“Persistent increase in petrol prices keep people in poverty which in turn perpetuates discriminatory attitudes and practices against them.

“The government has a legal obligation to mobilize the maximum of the country’s available resources to ensure people’s socio-economic rights and to protect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged Nigerians.

“The government also has the legal obligations to probe and prosecute allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL and to ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims of corruption.

“Investigating and prosecuting the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector would be entirely consistent with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), and the country’s international anti-corruption obligations.

“Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on the government to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution. Section 15(5) imposes the responsibility on the government to ‘abolish all corrupt practices’ including in the NNPC.

“Under Section 16(1) of the Constitution, the government has a responsibility to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.

“Section 16(2) further provides that, the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.

“According to our information, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited recently increased the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets.

“The price of the product increased to N855 per litre, from about N600, and in some instances above N900 per litre. The apparently unlawful increase in petrol price followed a scarcity caused by the reported refusal by suppliers to import petroleum products for the NNPCL over a $6 billion debt.

“The NNPC allegedly failed to remit USD$2.04 billion and N164 billion of oil revenues into the public treasury, as documented in the recently published 2020 annual report by the Auditor-General of the Federation.”

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Zambia’s finance expert, Maimbo poised to replace Nigeria’s Adeshina as AfDB president as he launches bid

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Zambia’s Development Finance Expert, Dr. Samuel Maimbo, has launched an audacious bid to replace Nigerian economist, Akinwumi Adesina, as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Maimbo who formally announced his candidacy for President of the AfDB on Friday during an event organized by ZANACO Bank at Latitude 15 Hotel in Lusaka, emphasized the need for bold, results-driven leadership to propel Africa’s economic transformation.

While speaking at the event, Maimbo who is the Vice President for Budget, Performance Review, and Strategic Planning at the World Bank, stressed that Africa stood at a critical juncture and requires decisive leadership at AfDB to accelerate economic growth and job creation.

“The AfDB needs bold, results-driven leadership unafraid to make tough decisions. I am the man for that job,” Maimbo declared.

He further underscored the need to fast-track employment for one billion Africans by supporting key industries that enhance livelihoods and drive prosperity.

Also speaking at the event, Zambia’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Mulambo Haimbe, commended the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) for endorsing Maimbo as their sole candidate for the AfDB presidency.

“This is a tremendous milestone not just for Zambia but for the entire region. We must unite in supporting Dr. Maimbo to strengthen AfDB’s role in Africa’s economic transformation,” Haimbe said.

He highlighted the importance of AfDB in advancing regional integration, infrastructure development, and tackling poverty, climate change, and youth unemployment.

ZANACO Managing Director, Mukwandi Chibesakunda who also spoke, described Maimbo’s candidacy as a beacon of hope for Africa, praising his vision for a self-sustaining and inclusive continent.

“His commitment to inclusive development aligns with Zambia’s national, regional, and continental goals. His leadership could unlock renewed investments in marginalized communities, youth, and women,” Chibesakunda said.

She noted that closing Africa’s gender gap could add US$2.5 trillion to the continent’s GDP, citing World Bank estimates.

The country’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, urged all stakeholders to rally behind Maimbo, emphasizing that Africa needed higher growth rates to navigate current challenges and seize future opportunities.

The event had in attendance high profile guests including former Vice President, Enock Kavindele, Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati, Bank of Zambia Governor, Danny Kalyalya, members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, and private sector executives.

The AfDB election, scheduled for May 29, 2025, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, will determine the next president of the 82-member institution tasked with driving sustainable development in Africa.

Maimbo is among eight candidates vying for the presidency.

Others are:

1. Abbas Mahamat Tolli (Chad)

2. Rabah Arezki (Algeria)

3. Amadou Hott (Senegal)

4. Albert Zeufack (Cameroon)

5. Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa)

6. Romuald Wadagni (Benin)

7. Ousmane Kane (Mauritania)

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‘Don’t start what you can’t finish’, ex-Nigerian official replies President Tchiani

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Former Nigerian Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has told President Abdourahamane Tchiani of Niger Republic to refrain from making infantile and puerile allegations that Nigeria is conniving with France and the Lakurawa terrorists to destabilize his country.

Tchiani had, during an interview with Radio-Télévision du Niger on December 25, accused the Nigerian government of using the sect, with the help of foreign security forces notably from France, to wreck havoc in his country, insinuating that President Bola Tinubu had been paid by the France government to allow their military to establish a base in Borno State.

He also alleged that Nigeria, acting in collaboration with the French government and the terrorist group, was responsible for an attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline on December 13, 2024, in Gaya, Dosso Region of Niger Republic.

But in a statement he posted on his official X handle on Sunday, Fani-Kayode who is popularly called FFK, said Nigeria does not need the help of France and thr Lakurawa terrorist to destabilize Niger Republic.

FFK insisted that Nigeria is not part of the western powers sponsoring terrorists organizations to wretch havoc on the West African sub region.

“If Nigeria wanted to destabilise Niger Republic, I do not believe that we would need France or any terrorist organisation to do so,” the politician wrote.

He noted that on the contrary, western powers are the ones behind terrorist organizations operating in the region and other parts of Africa.

“I have maintained that the western powers are behind the terrorist groups that have plagued the West African sub region over the last 15 years and for the last ten years I have publicly stated this and given my reasons.

“I am equally certain that Nigeria, being one of the major victims of these terrorist organisations, has had no part in it and that no Nigerian President, past or present, has indulged in such grave and dangerous actions.”

He went on to advice Tchiani against provoking Nigeria with unguarded and infantile utterances capable of stoking Nigeria against his country.

“The Nigerien Military Head of State, Abdourahamane Tchiani, would do well to be careful not to provoke our wrath with his absurd assertions and remain mindful of the fact that the defence budget for his country, Mali and Burkina Faso COMBINED is not up to 25% of Nigeria’s.

“Tchiani’s grave allegations that President Tinubu and NSA Nuhu Ribadu have been bought by the French to destabilise Niger Republic, that our Government is jointly sponsoring a terrorist group with France to do same and that there are French military bases in Nigeria are infantile, puerile, mendacious and asinine.

“It is a squalid attempt by the Nigerien Head of State to sow the seeds of dissention in our country, to alienate our people from constituted authority, to divide our people and to undermine the Tinubu administration,” he added.

“It is also highly provocative and the FG should consider the possibility of taking other more extreeme measures if this reckless provocation continues.

“We are under no obligation to show restraint when we are being undermined and maligned.

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