The Socio-Financial Rights and Accountability Mission has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm Restricted to instantly reverse the second improve in petrol costs in a single month, pending the listening to and dedication of the go well with earlier than the Federal Excessive Court docket, Abuja difficult the legality of the powers of the NNPCL to extend petrol costs.
In keeping with an announcement on Sunday by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation had final month filed a lawsuit in opposition to the President and NNPCL “over the failure to reverse the illegal improve within the pump worth of petrol, and to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the NNPCL.”
The assertion learn, “The newest improve in petrol costs makes a mockery of the case pending earlier than the Federal Excessive Court docket, and creates a threat that the course of justice might be critically impeded or prejudiced on this case.
“One of many elementary rules of the rule of regulation is that it applies to everybody, together with presidents and CEOs of public establishments.
“It’s within the public curiosity to maintain the streams of justice clear and pure, and to keep up the authority and integrity of the court docket within the case.”
SERAP additionally mentioned permitting the Federal Excessive Court docket to listen to and decide the case can be solely according to the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Structure 1999 [as amended], “your oath of workplace and oft-repeated guarantees to uphold the rule of regulation.”
The letter, learn partly, “SERAP notes that since assumption of workplace in Might 2023 you might have repeatedly promised, together with in your inaugural speech, that ‘Nigeria might be impartially ruled in line with the Structure and the rule of regulation.’
“Growing petrol costs whereas the Federal Excessive Court docket case is pending would prejudice and undermine the flexibility of the court docket to do justice within the case, harm public confidence within the court docket, prejudice the end result of the case, in addition to impede the course of justice.
“We’d be grateful if the beneficial measures are instantly taken following the receipt and/or publication of this letter, failing which SERAP shall contemplate contempt proceedings and/or different acceptable authorized actions to compel your authorities and NNPCL to adjust to our request within the public curiosity.”
SERAP additionally warned that if not instantly reversed, the newest improve in petrol costs would critically undermine the integrity of the Nigerian Structure and have critical penalties for essentially the most weak and deprived Nigerians and the general public curiosity.
“Defending the fitting to a judicial recourse and due administration of justice is of utmost significance, being the cornerstone of an ordered society.
“The one method through which SERAP can have a good and efficient entry to justice on this matter is to permit the court docket to determine, in some way, on the deserves of the case earlier than it.
“Reversing the newest improve in petrol costs would enable the court docket to render a choice on the central points within the case, and shield the applicant’s rights and pursuits.
“The newest improve in petrol costs whereas the Federal Excessive Court docket case is pending constitutes an interference with the fitting of SERAP to pretty and successfully pursue a judicial problem to the choice by your authorities and NNPCL concerning the primary improve in petrol costs” the assertion added.
SERAP famous that in line with its data, the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm Restricted lately elevated the value of premium motor spirit (PMS), also called petrol, throughout its shops, saying that the retail worth of petrol was elevated from N897 to N1,030 per litre.
“That is the second improve in a single month, and adopted the rise in September from N600 to N855 per litre, and in some situations above N900 per litre.”
“The 2 will increase adopted a shortage attributable to the reported refusal by suppliers to import petroleum merchandise for the NNPCL over a $6 billion debt.
“In keeping with the lately revealed 2020 audited report by the Auditor Common of the Federation (AGF), the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Company (NNPC) didn’t remit over USD$2 billion and N164 billion of oil revenues into the Federation Account. The Auditor-Common fears that the cash might have been diverted into personal pockets.
“The NNPCL reportedly failed and/or refused to remit N151,121,999,966. The NNPCL, with none justification, deducted the cash from the oil royalties assessed for 2020 by the Division of Petroleum Assets, now Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Fee (NUPRC).”
It added that the NNPCL has didn’t account for the lacking public funds, stating that the Auditor-Common needs the cash recovered and remitted into the Federation Account.
“The NNPCL additionally didn’t remit USD$19,774,488.15 collected as authorities income to the Federation Account. The Auditor-Common needs the NNPCL to account for the cash, recuperate and remit it into the Federation Account, and handy over these suspected to be concerned to the ICPC and the EFCC.”
“The Nigerian Petroleum Growth Firm (NPDC) Ltd additionally reportedly didn’t account for USD$2,021,411,877.47 and N13,313,565,786.49 of royalties collected from crude oil and fuel gross sales and fuel flare.”
“The Auditor-Common needs the general public funds totally recovered and remitted into the Federation Account and for these suspected to be liable for the lacking public funds to be handed over to the ICPC and the EFCC.”
“SERAP final month filed a lawsuit asking your authorities and NNPCL difficult the lawfulness of the rise within the pump worth of petrol, and the failure to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the NNPCL.”
SERAP harassed that rising petrol costs would compromise the curiosity of the Applicant within the Federal Excessive Court docket case filed in opposition to the federal authorities and the NNPCL, because the second improve in a single month instantly touches on the central points and the legality of the primary improve, which the court docket is ready to find out and rule upon.
“The core of the precept of judicial independence is the entire liberty of the decide to listen to and determine the circumstances earlier than them primarily based on information and in accordance with the regulation, with none improper interference, direct or oblique,” SERAP averred.