The Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP) has vowed to file a public interest lawsuit against the Federal Government to compel President Bola Tinubu to reverse the recent hike in fuel price and probe allegations of corruption against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
This comes after the Department of State Services (DSS) invaded SERAP’s Abuja office on Monday, which the group described as an attempt to intimidate them.
Deputy Director Kolawole Dare stated that SERAP would not be deterred and would continue to use legal advocacy to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria.
“We would appreciate it if the recommended measures were implemented within 48 hours of receiving or publishing this letter. If we do not receive a response by then, SERAP will consider appropriate legal action to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest,” Dare said.
SERAP had given President Tinubu a 48-hour ultimatum to direct the NNPCL to reverse the fuel price hike and probe corruption allegations, threatening legal action if their demands were not met.
The group has accused the NNPCL of unlawfully increasing the price of petrol from N600 per litre to N855 per litre, with some instances exceeding N900 per litre.
Dare emphasized that SERAP would continue to resist attempts to restrict, silence, or eliminate the voices of credible civil society in the country.
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“We are not intimidated by the actions of the government, including the invasion of our office by the DSS. SERAP is fully committed to its mandate to use legal advocacy to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria,” he said.
The DSS had clarified that their officers were detailed to SERAP’s office for “routine investigation,” but Dare insisted that the group would not be deterred from pursuing its mandate.
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