The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) says the public invitation extended to former President Olusegun Obasanjo by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for a tour of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries is not disrespectful to the elder statesman.
SERAP which described the invitation as timely and a welcome development, however, urged the NNPCL to formally invite the ex – President to inspect the nation’s resuscitated refineries.
The body further asked NNPCL to also involve the anti-graft agencies, including the ICPC and EFCC, in monitoring refinery operations and expenditures, particularly at the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
This in part followed Obasanjo’s reaction through his media aide, Mr. Kehinde Akinyemi, that it was disrespectful to him to be invited for a tour of the refineries using open invitation.
SERAP, in the letter dated 4 January 2025 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said they welcome the NNPCL timely public invitation to former president Obasanjo to tour the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
“While your invitation is clearly not ‘disrespectful’, contrary to the claims by the former president because no one is above the law, we urge you to formally invite him, and to extend your invitation to the EFCC and ICPC for the sake of transparency and accountability.
“Your public invitation to Obasanjo is well-justified, and entirely consistent with the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international obligations on the obligations of the NNPCL and the roles of citizens in preventing and combating grand corruption,” it said.
SERAP also asked NNPCL and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, to provide a detailed account of the alleged missing ₦825 billion and $2.5 billion meant for refinery rehabilitation and other oil revenues.
This demand followed revelations in the 2021 annual report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, released on Thursday, 27 November 2024, according to SERAP.
It urged Mele Kyari to identify and hand over individuals implicated in the mismanagement of funds to the appropriate government agencies -Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the letter, the grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, national anti corruption laws, and the country’s international obligations.
It added that the allegations have also undermined the economic development of the country, trapped the majority of Nigerians in poverty and deprived them of opportunities.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel the NNPCL to comply with our requests in the public interest.
“According to the recently published 2021 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation, AGF, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, failed to account for over N825 billion and USD$2.5 billion of public funds meant for ‘refinery rehabilitation’ and repairs, and other oil revenues,” SERAP added.
