The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over “the failure to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reverse the apparently ‘unlawful’ increase in the pump price of petrol, and to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL.”
Other respondents in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and the NNPCL.
In the suit, number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1361/2024, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP 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.”
The suit, filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), read: “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 NNPC 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.
