Some human rights lawyers have dragged the Chief Financial Officer of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Dapo Segun, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the immediate probe, prosecution and sack of the nation’s oil company top staff members.
The lawyers accused the NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Segun, who is the former Executive Vice President-Downstream of alleged involvement in the failure of the over N5 trillion refinery rehabilitation and also alleged to be involved in another N140 billion deal to acquire OVH Energy by the NNPCL, which is the subject of ongoing multiple investigations from relevant agencies and the National Assembly.
● The court papers
The plaintiffs led by Okere Kingdom, a constitutional lawyer, are suing under the aegis of ‘Registered Trustees of Rights for all International’ and particularly condemned the lopsided investigation of the refinery rehabilitation that gulped over N5 trillion.
They also alleged that the EFCC might be shielding the NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, who oversaw the failed rehabilitation.
In the suit, which was brought ex-parte, the Rights For All International listed the EFCC and Dapo Segun, the Chief Financial Officer of the company, as defendants.
The reliefs being sought by the group include: “A declaration that the failure by the EFCC to investigate the fraudulent conduct or role of the 2nd Respondent, as the Chief Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, in connection with the acquisition of the of OVH Energy by the NNPCL and rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt and Warri Refineries, amounts to a refusal/failure of its statutory and/or public duty and therefore constitutes an abuse of powers, ultra vires and bad faith.
The plaintiffs also asked the court for “an order of mandamus directing and compelling the 1st Respondent by its staff, officers, privies, servants or otherwise howsoever described to within 7 days commence investigation of the fraudulent conduct or role of the 2nd Respondent, as the Chief Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, in connection with the acquisition of the of OVH Energy by the NNPCL and rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries and to publish the Report of the Investigation within 14 days of its conclusion.
They are also seeking for an “order of mandamus directing and compelling the 1st Respondent by its staff, officers, privies, servants or otherwise howsoever described, where the Report of the Investigation discloses commission of any office, to forthwith arrest and prosecute the 2nd Respondent (Dapo Segun) for the economic and financials offences relating to the acquisition of the of OVH Energy by the NNPCL and rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt and Warri Refineries”.
Furthermore, the group of lawyers is asking for an “interim order of court directing the 2nd Respondent (Dapo Segun) to forthwith step aside as the Chief Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and cease the performance of any duty pertaining thereto, tampering with or altering any documents or records material to the investigation into his conduct and/or role in the acquisition of the of OVH Energy by the NNPCL and rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt and Warri Refineries, pending the hearing and determination of the Substantive Motion on Notice for Judicial Review,” he prayed the court.
Kingdom noted that it is disturbing that the man who was in charge of the downstream operations of NNPCL is yet to be brought before the law for his role in the failed exercise. He also demanded that the court should issue an order mandating the EFCC to immediately bring the NNPCL Chief Financial Officer to book.
The plaintiff also called on President Bola Tinubu to relieve the Chief Financial Officer of his current appointment in order to forestall possible interference with vital evidence.
The lawyers are also alleging selective investigation of fraud relating to the repair of refineries by the NNPCL, which will ruin the integrity of the process if not immediately fixed.
* Media Report