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Friday, March 29, 2024

SERAP to sue FG over 149m barrels of crude oil missing, unaccounted for

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has threatened to sue the Nigerian Federal Government if it fails to investigate the allegation that over 149 million barrels of crude oil are missing and unaccounted for. SERAP, in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, called on the government to establish a presidential panel to investigate the matter, as reported in the 2019 audited reports by the Auditor General of the Federation and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). The civil society organization also called for the prosecution of anyone responsible for the theft and the recovery of any proceeds of crime.

SERAP claims that according to the 2019 audited report by the Auditor General, over 107 million barrels of crude oil were lifted as domestic crude without documentation or tracing. NEITI also reported the disappearance of 42.25 million barrels of crude oil in 2019. SERAP believes that the government has repeatedly promised to combat corruption, and the allegations provide an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to upholding its oath of office.

The civil society organization has called on Buhari to prioritize investigations into the allegations and use the remainder of his term in office to ensure justice and accountability for the serious crimes against the Nigerian people. SERAP has also called for the investigation of the allegations, the prosecution of those responsible, and the recovery of any stolen proceeds.

SERAP has given the government seven days to take appropriate action in line with the recommended measures in the letter. Failure to do so will result in the organization taking legal action to compel the government to comply with its request in the public interest.

According to SERAP, the missing crude oil allegations present an opportunity to advance the right of Nigerians to restitution, compensation, and guarantee of non-repetition and improve public confidence in the fight against corruption and related crimes, particularly in the oil sector.

SERAP called on the government to investigate the allegations promptly and name and shame suspected perpetrators, saying that such steps would recover stolen funds, provide compensation to affected Nigerians, and restore public confidence in the government’s commitment to the fight against corruption. The civil society organization urged the government to conform to the Nigerian Constitution, the UN Convention against Corruption, and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, which Nigeria is a state party.

SERAP insisted that the government must take the necessary steps to investigate the allegations, prosecute those responsible for the missing crude oil, and recover any proceeds of crime. SERAP warned that it would take all appropriate legal actions to compel the government to comply with its request in the public interest.

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