Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, a human rights group, has filed a suit at the federal high court in Abuja against the federal government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Dapo Segun, chief financial officer (CFO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The group is calling for an investigation into the NNPCL’s N140 billion acquisition of OVH Energy and the multi-trillion naira rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
In the suit filed ex parte, the EFCC is listed as the first respondent while Segun, who served as NNPCL’s executive vice-president of downstream operations at the time of the OVH transaction, is named as the second respondent.
The group, led by constitutional lawyer Okere Kingdom, is seeking an order of mandamus compelling the EFCC to investigate alleged irregularities in the OVH deal and refinery projects, and to publish its findings within 14 days of conclusion.
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The suit also includes a request for a court declaration that the anti-graft agency’s failure to initiate a probe constitutes a dereliction of duty and an abuse of power.
In its reliefs, the group asked the court to declare that the EFCC’s failure to investigate the CFO’s role in the OVH acquisition and refinery rehabilitation violates its statutory responsibility; compel the EFCC to begin an investigation within seven days and publish the report of its findings; order that, if any wrongdoing is uncovered, the EFCC should arrest and prosecute individuals found culpable; and grant an interim order directing Segun to step aside as CFO of NNPCL during the investigation to prevent interference with evidence or official records.
The group stressed that its suit does not imply guilt but seeks transparency and accountability in the handling of public funds in the petroleum sector.
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The OVH acquisition, sealed in 2022, made NNPCL the owner of over 380 fuel retail stations. It was touted as a strategic move to strengthen the company’s downstream operations. However, questions have since been raised about the valuation and execution of the deal.
Similarly, the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries — particularly Port Harcourt and Warri — has drawn criticism after repeated delays despite massive financial commitments estimated at over N5 trillion.
The suit follows mounting scrutiny from civil society organisations over the performance of NNPCL in executing critical national oil infrastructure projects.
In a related development, the Centre for Oil and Gas Transparency and Reform has released a series of video commentaries alleging corruption in the management of the refinery rehabilitation project. The group called for greater oversight and public accountability in the oil sector.
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EFCC has not yet responded to the suit, and NNPCL has not issued any public comment on the case.
