The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged a Federal High Court in Abuja to order the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to account for the alleged missing $2.04 billion and N164 billion oil revenues.
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/549/2024, which is yet to be assigned to a judge, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPCL to account for and explain the whereabouts of the missing oil revenues, as documented in a report by the Auditor-General.
The civil society organisation is also asking the court for an order of mandamus to compel the defendant to hand over suspected perpetrators to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation and prosecution.
The plaintiff is seeking an order of mandamus to compel the NNPC to ensure the full recovery and remittance of the missing revenue into the Federation Account.
In an affidavit attached to the suit, SERAP averred that there is a legitimate public interest in providing the details sought because the NNPCL has a legal responsibility to account for, and explain the whereabouts of the disappeared money.
The plaintiff argued that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.
It also submitted that Section 16(2) of the Constitution further provides that ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.
SERAP also insisted that Section 13 of the 1999 Constitution imposes a clear responsibility on the NNPCL to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.
It further argued that paragraph 3112(ii) of the Financial Regulations 2009 provides that, ‘Where a public officer fails to account for government revenue, such officer shall be surcharged for the total amount involved and such officer shall be handed over to either the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The plaintiff further stated that Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources saying Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention also imposes legal obligations on the NNPCL to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds.
The organisation, therefore, called on the court to compel the defendant to uphold and respect these commitments.
SERAP also maintained that the missing oil revenues have further damaged the already precarious economy in the country and contributed to high levels of deficit spending by the government.
The plaintiff also argued that without the full recovery and remittance of the missing USD$2.04 billion and N164 billion oil revenues, the dire economic situation may worsen, and Nigerians will continue to be denied access to basic public goods and services.
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Police in Kaduna State has denied the abduction of over 100 worshippers at Kajuru in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The state Police Commissioner, Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu, while addressing newsmen after the State Security Council meeting described the report as “mere falsehood peddled by conflict entrepreneurs,” that want to cause chaos in the state.
He challenged anyone to list the names of the kidnapped victims and other particulars.
The commissioner of Police warned rumor mongers to desist from trying to derail the prevailing peace in the state, threatening to unleash the full wrath of the law on such merchants of falsehood.
The Chairman of Kajuru local government, Dauda Madaki, while condemning the false report, explained that when he heard the rumour of the attack, they mobilized police and other security forces to the area, Kurmin Wali, but found out that there was no attack.
According to him, “We visited the church where the so called kidnap took place, there was no evidence of the attack. I asked the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and he said that there was no such attack.”
He added that he also called the youth leader of the area, Bernard Bona who was interviewed by pressmen that accompanied him, refuting that no such thing happened.
The chairman challenged anyone to name the people that were kidnapped, saying, “I have been waiting for this list and no one has come forward with any name.”
He alleged that the rumor of the kidnap is being sponsored by people who are not happy with the relative peace that Kajuru has been enjoying since the coming of the present administration.
He advised the people of the area to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses, stressing that they should report any suspicious movements and rumour mongers to security agents.
The Commissioner of Internal Security and Home, Sule Shauibu (SAN), explained that the CAN chairman and other religious leaders have interacted with the people of the area where the so-called kidnap occurred, saying that they found out that what was pushed out to the public was completely false.
A Nigerian man has sparked widespread reactions online after publicly calling out a Babalawo identified as Ifayemi over claims linked to the death of late Afrofuji singer Destiny Boy.
In an emotional outburst that has continued to circulate on social media, the man accused the spiritualist of giving the young singer juju he described as “too much” for his age.
Speaking passionately, the man said he is still struggling to come to terms with the singer’s death.
“Ifayemi, I have not accepted that Destiny Boy is dead. If it is true, then you are one of those who killed him. What you gave him was too much,” he said.
He alleged that many young people are dying prematurely because some Babalawos give them rituals their ages cannot handle.
The man also questioned how Destiny Boy allegedly afforded a “N30 million plus car” despite claims that he was not financially buoyant.
In his words:
“Ifayemi, I have not accepted that Destiny Boy is dead. If it is true, then you are one of those who killed him. What you gave him was too much.
They said he only did ‘IFA’, and shortly after that, he went to buy a ‘N30 million plus car’. If someone does ‘IFA’, does that mean the person wants to do money ritual? ‘IFA’ does not make one rich. When you do ‘IFA’, it is your family curses that will be washed away, but that does not mean you will have money.
After that, they will ask you what you want. Do you want money? That is when they now do rituals for you. The type of ritual you ask for is what they will do for you. But ‘IFA’ and money ritual are two different things.
If you went ahead to do something heavy, you must have passed a certain age. These days, youth deaths are becoming common because what babalawos are giving young people is too much for their age.
Ifayemi, if they later bury that boy, it is you that killed him. The juju you gave that boy was too much. They said Destiny Boy did not have money, yet he was using a ‘N30 million plus car’. How much was he even getting from his shows?
My father is also a babalawo. If you go to meet my father and say you want to do ritual, the first thing he will ask is your age. If you say you are 20 or 30-something, he will tell you he cannot do it for you because untimely death is the consequence from ‘Ajonu’, and it will beat them to death.
Can’t you see that it is accidents killing most of them? It is only this one that died while drying up alive.
Someone told me just last night that he wanted to release a new album and asked me to help promote it. I told him we should talk this morning, and now today he is dead. Me, I have not accepted that this boy is dead o.”
See below;
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTq3SCWkrqG/?igsh=MWUxODM2azF4ajM5Yg==
A man has been left devastated after losing his savings to a failed football bet involving the Manchester City versus Manchester United.
According to reports, the man had confidently staked a large amount of money on Manchester City to defeat Manchester United.
However, the match did not go as expected, and the loss left him emotionally shattered.
In video trending on social media, the man was seeing shading tears while still at the bet shop after he had lost a huge chunk of his money.
X user,@general_somto said …
“He placed a huge bet using his savings On Manchester City to beat Manchester United and was very confident of winning. Manchester City lost, and he ended up in tears. he’s been crying ever since.”
Check out reactions below …
@tuyungNG said: “Him never hear “stake what you can afford to lose” before ?”
@mrboboskie remarked: “Don’t gamble they won’t listen, but if you must gamble, gamble with what you can afford to lose. Poor man wants to make it big”
@profff09 wrote: “The voice in the background is telling the man crying to find him small money 
… This is absolute”
@Stazingar wrote: “Gambling is a slow bleed. The house gives you a few initial wins to get you hooked and then wreck you down”
@Nigermouthpiece stated: “Crying over a bet you could never afford is pure irresponsibility. Confidence isn’t wisdom, and gambling your savings isn’t courage, it’s self-inflicted pain.”
Watch video below …
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