News

SERAP Sues Tinubu Over Failure To Probe Fuel Subsidy Funds

Published

2 years ago

June 12, 2023

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued President Bola Tinubu, over the failure to probe the allegations that USD$2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion public funds of oil revenues budgeted as fuel subsidy payments are missing and unaccounted for between 2016 and 2019.
SERAP filed a lawsuit against Tinubu at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking an order of mandamus to compel the President to promptly investigate allegations that USD$2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion in public funds are missing and unaccounted for between 2016 and 2019.
The group is also seeking an order of mandamus to compel President Tinubu to direct anti-corruption agencies to promptly investigate fuel subsidy payments made by governments since 1999, name and prosecute suspected perpetrators and recover any proceeds of crimes.
SERAP is also seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Tinubu to use any recovered proceeds of crime as palliatives to address the impact of the subsidy removal on poor Nigerians, and to put in place mechanisms for transparency and accountability in the oil sector.”
In the suit, SERAP argues that: “The allegations that US$2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion of public funds are missing and unaccounted amount to a fundamental breach of national anti-corruption laws and the country’s international obligations including under the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.”
It stated that “The Tinubu government has constitutional and international legal obligations to get to the bottom of these allegations and ensure accountability for these serious crimes against the Nigerian people.”
According to SERAP, “Directing and compelling President Tinubu to promptly probe, name and shame and bring to justice the perpetrators and to recover any missing public funds would advance the right of Nigerians to restitution, compensation, and guarantee of non-repetition.”
It noted that “Allegations of corruption in fuel subsidy payments suggest that the poor have rarely benefited from the use and management of the payments.”
According to the lawsuit filed by SERAP’s lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Ms Adelanke Aremo, Ms Valentina Adegoke, and Ayomide Johnson, there can be no economic growth or sustainability without accountability for human rights crimes. Poor and socio-economically vulnerable Nigerians should not be made to pay for the stealing of the country’s oil wealth while state and non-state actors pocket public funds.
The statement read in part; “Investigating and prosecuting the allegations, and recovering any missing public funds would serve the public interest, ensure justice and accountability, and end the entrenched impunity of perpetrators.
“According to the audited reports between 2016 and 2019 by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) failed to remit N663,896,567,227.58 into the Federation Account. The Auditor-General fears that the money may be missing.
“The NNPC also reportedly failed to account for the allocation of crude oil to refineries in 2019. 107,239,436.00 barrels of crude oil were lifted as domestic crude without any document. The Auditor-General fears that the crude valued at N55,891,009,960.63 may have been diverted.
“The NNPC in 2019 also failed to remit N1,955,354,671,268.66 and N55,157,702,848.74 of generated revenues into the Federation Account, contrary to Section 162(1) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]. The Auditor-General fears that the money may have been diverted.
“The NNPC also failed to account for N4,572,844,962.25 of ‘domestic gas receipts’, thereby ‘reducing the distributable revenue in the Federation account.’ The NNPC also in 2019 failed to account for 22,929.84 litres of PMS pumped from refineries and valued at N7,056,137,180.00.
“The NNPC also ‘illegally classified’ 239,800 barrels of crude oil valued at N5,498,045,220 as ‘crude oil losses.’
“The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in 2019 also reportedly failed to remit US$1,278,364,595.49 in revenue to the Federation Account. The money was deducted by the NNPC from the Oil and Gas Royalty assessed by the DPR.
“The DPR in 2019 also deducted N19,840,081.29 as ‘stamp duty’ payments from contractors and consultants but the DPR instantly paid back the money to the contractors and consultants instead of remitting it to the treasury.
“The DPR in 2019 also paid N137,225,973.35 to contractors and consultants for various contracts and consultancies but failed to deduct stamp duty.
“The DPR also paid N11,856,088,271.92 as salaries for 2019 but failed to deduct N118,560,882.72 as the contribution of 1% Industrial Training Fund (ITF). The DPR in 2019 also failed to transfer US$35,738,342.95 year balance.
“The DPR in 2018 also withdrew without any explanation US$759,387,755.10 from DPR Signature Bonus Account rather than paid the money into the Federation Account.
“Subsidy records show that N443,940,559,974.80 was paid as total subsidy for 2016 but the money was not budgeted for. The payments were for outstanding Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) commitments for the year 2015. However, there was no payment in 2016. Only outstanding payments for previous years 2014 and 2015 and interest payments were made in 2016.
“The Auditor-General fears that the oil marketers that received the subsidy payments may not have been ‘eligible to draw from the Petroleum Support Fund as the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) failed to provide any document on the payments.
“N39,141,210,181.74 was also paid from the Federation Account in 2016 to different Oil Marketers in 26 transactions, being Payments of Interest and Foreign Exchange Differential on Subsidy but without any document.
“The NNPC also made ‘zero profit’ and recorded ‘losses from its joint ventures in 2016. This is contrary to expectations that profits should be made from the joint ventures.
“The Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Abuja in 2016 paid N14,490,000.00 for the supply of 3 Nissan Almera Saloon vehicles 1.5 to the Ministry without proper documentation. The purchase of ‘the vehicles were made through direct procurement without competitive bidding by at least three companies, as required by Financial Regulations. There was no advertisement and bidding for this contract.
“Although ‘N12,442,500.00 was approved by the Bureau of Public Procurement for the vehicles, the Ministry made an overpayment of N2,047,500.00 to the car company.

News

Let’s Approach Regional Development Issues Differently – Fubara …As S’South Govs Host Fubara To 50th Birthday Celebration

Published

26 mins ago

January 30, 2025

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has sued for a change in the current approach adopted by South South Governors in their pursuit to achieve holistic regional development and economic prosperity.

The governor insisted on de-emphasis in vested individuals’ political interests while looking at the bigger picture of achieving enduring regional integration that will strengthen unity of purpose to change the trajectory of development in the region.

Fubara made the appeal during the meeting of Governors of South-South States, under the auspices of BRACED Commission, at the Bayelsa State Government House in Yanagoa on Tuesday.

This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi.

BRACED is an acronym for Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta.

He said: “I want to appeal that if we have to succeed in this drive, we need to keep our political differences aside and understand that the struggle, as at today, is for posterity, for the development of our region.

“It is really sad that in Niger Delta that is the economic base of this country, the construction of a road that you tagged ‘East-West Road’ could be an issue, that we need to beg, protest, and complain to get it fixed. I don’t think it is proper.”

Governor Fubara stated that it is not that the federal authorities do not understand that Niger Delta needs the road but quickly added that they have seen that even the people of the region do not take themselves seriously.

The governor said the moment Niger Delta people stopped playing to the gallery, and place value on themselves, outsiders will have no option than to accord the region and its people due regard.

Fubara said: “On my part, I want to say this: This is not the first time we are meeting. For me, I followed the course of the region meeting in a forum that we tagged “BRACED Commission.”

“BRACED Commission is also one of the bodies that was constituted at that time to support and work out development strategies for this region. But what I am seeing today is just limiting this meeting to only BRACED COMMISSION.

“We need to widen the scope where other leaders of the region should be part of the discussion of the development of the region, and I think this is the direction that will help the region.”

Reading the Communique of the meeting, the new Chairman of the Forum of Governors of South-South States, and Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, said they support the Federal Government Tax Reform Bills, and urged President Bola Tinubu to extend the Value Added Tax (VAT) sharing percentages to oil and gas derivation.

He stated the Forum’s request to the Federal Government to urge relevant stakeholders and agencies to extend remediation of polluted environment ongoing in Ogoni land to other impacted communities and States in the region.

Governor Diri also said that the Forum resolved to establish a structural regional security network to enhance safety and security, foster stable Niger Delta region conducive for economic growth and prosperity.

Highlight of the event was the hosting of Governor Fubara to a surprise 50th Birthday celebration by the Governors of South-South States at the Government House in Yenagoa.

News

TotalEnergies On Red Alert As Ekpeye Monarch Dissolves UCA

Published

3 hours ago

January 30, 2025

The Tide

The Ekpeye Supreme Monarch, His Imperial Majesty, Eze Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, has urged Total Energies Limited to relinquish gas exploration in his kingdom if the company is not ready to site its gas plant within Ekpeye land.

The monarch also announced the dissolution of Ubie Consultative Assembly (UCA), describing it as a kangaroo arrangement.

Eze Ekpeye Logbo III made this known during a general meeting of the people of Ekpeye ethnic nationality held on Tuesday in his palace at Ula-Upata Community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, over Ubeta community gas project.

While ordering for the dissolution of the High Chief Mazi Bright Enyelike led UCA, Eze Anugwo charged Uzugbani Ekpeye to work with Ekpeye Oil and Gas, Ekpeye Youth Congress (EYC), and thereafter reports to the House on workable sharing formula.

The Ekpeye Monarch vowed that he would not fold his hands watching some charlatans conniving with TotalEnergies to steal their crude oil and gas to other lands.

Also speaking at the meeting, Hon. Victor Obuzor, member representing Ahoada West, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency, advised the people of Ekpeye to protect their rights.

Obuzor narrated the raging battle at the Senate in Abuja between TotalEnergies Ltd and the Senate Committee on Oil and Gas of which he is a member.

He, however, berated UCA and other disgruntled elements from Ubie clan who were claiming ownership of the oilfield for their unholy roles in the matter.

Other notable speakers at the meeting including Chief Andrew J. Egbelu, High Chief Engr. Samuel Ekiye, EYC President General, Dr. Justice Ewoh, also criticized the UCA, saying it lacked the power to set up committee for the generality of Ekpeye.

It was reported at the meeting that His Majesty Eze (Hon.) Augustine Maxwell Okpokiri Eze Igbu Ubie VI instructed his subjects not to attend the meeting, an order which most people violated.

It was gathered that UCA is a body created by a few people of Ubie clan to represent and transact the oil and gas business for and on behalf of Ubie kingdom, but the formation according to sources, was against the overall interest of Ekpeye populace.

Present at the meeting include His Majesty, Eze Prince Ike Ehie – Eze Igbu Orlukwor II; His Majesty Eze Apstl. Joshua Eyiba – Eze Igbu Igbuduya II; His Majesty Eze Anderson Okpara Egbuluka – Eze Igbu Ugbobi II; HRH Eze Nnodim Michael represented His Majesty Eze Dr. Felix Enene Otuwarikpo – Eze Igbu Upata; HRH Eze Dr Chigemerem David – Eze Emene Echi Ubie; Mr Kingdom Ajugo represented Rgt. Hon. Chibudhom Nwuche; Dr (Mrs) Patricia Wudhiga Ogbonnaya – Ada Ekpeye among several others.

News

FG Deports 828 Illegal Immigrants, Tightens Border Security

Published

3 hours ago

January 30, 2025

The Tide

The Federal Government says it deported 828 illegal immigrants in 2024 as part of its intensified efforts to combat irregular migration and enhance national security.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this at a media parley in Abuja on Tuesday.

Highlighting the government’s achievements, the minister stated, “In the last one year, 137 victims of trafficking were intercepted, and in 2024 alone, 828 foreigners were repatriated by the Nigerian Immigration Service.”

As part of broader reforms, the government implemented measures to modernise border operations and immigration systems.

These include integrating Nigerian passports into the International Civil Aviation Organisation Public Key Directory, allowing seamless verification worldwide, and establishing a centralised Visa Approval Centre in Abuja to streamline visa processing.

To support these initiatives, an 8.3-petabyte data centre—the largest in Nigeria—has been constructed, and a solar-powered infrastructure was introduced to ensure uninterrupted operations.

A Command and Control Centre now provides real-time monitoring of all land and air entry points, boosting surveillance capabilities.

The minister noted that the NIS also cleared a backlog of “200,000 passport applications within three weeks in 2023 and issued 1,836,533 passports in 2024.”