…Seek Sack, Arrest, Prosecution
By Eric Moore
TROUBLE for the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is not ending soon as Human Rights Lawyers and Ethnic Youth Leaders of Nigeria have dragged him to the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, seeking his sack and prosecution over his role in the failed rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
In the suit, which was filed on Friday, the applicants are seeking for mandatory sack, arrest, investigation and prosecution of the former Executive Vice President Downstream of the NNPCL, whose tenure saw the mismanagement of the refinery rehabilitation that cost Nigeria over N5 trillion.
The suit with number FHC/CS/157/2025 is a Judicial Review, seeking numerous declarations and mandamus against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Dapo Segun by a group of constitutional lawyers and leadership of Ethnic Youth Leaders of Nigeria.
Counsel for applicants, M.O Osuji, prayed the court for the following: “An Order of this honorable court granting leave to the applicant to bring an application for mandamus directing the first defendant (EFCC) to commence investigation of the activities and role of the second defendant as the Chief Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, in connection with the acquisition of the of OVH Energy by the NNPCL and rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
“An Interim Order Of Court directing the second respondent (Dapo Segun) to forthwith step aside as the Chief Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and cease the performance of any duty pertaining thereto, tampering with or altering any documents or records material to the investigation into his conduct and/or role in the acquisition of the of OVH Energy by the ‘NNPCL and rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt and Warri Refineries, pending the hearing and determination of the Substantive Motion on Notice for Judicial Review.
“An Order Of Court granting Leave to the applicant to serve the order granting leave to the applicant, Motion on Notice for Judicial Review and any other process(es) in this Suit on the second defendant by substituted means to wit: delivering all the aforementioned court processes to the Legal Department of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited at its head office at Central Business District, Abuja.
“An Order Of Court directing an accelerated hearing and determination of this Suit.”
Addressing journalists outside the court shortly after, Osuji noted that their major concern as lawyers was that despite the good and commendable steps taken by the EFCC to investigate the dealings in Port Harcourt Refinery as a result of the turnaround maintenance, the gentleman who is at the helm of affairs during that period was not being investigated.
He said: “Our major concern is despite the good and commendable steps taken by the EFCC to investigate the dealing in Port Harcourt Refinery as a result of the turnaround maintenance, the gentleman who is at the helm of affairs during that period is not being investigated. That’s Dapo Segun, he was also involved in OVH acquisition and we are yet to see its true potential.
“It’s not hasty, April to now is about four months ago, in the circular issued that they have commenced investigation. What I expected was that this invitation would have been extended to the man at the helm of affairs, the Chief Operating Officer of NNPCL. He’s at the helm of affairs during the turnaround maintenance and acquisition of OVH.
“He has a vital role to play. As I speak to you, several people are being investigated by EFCC, including the former GMD, Mele Kyari. We, as lawyers, have a duty, to assist the EFCC, the law, the Presidency in fighting corruption. That’s why we have brought this action for the court to mandate them to investigate the man who’s at the helm of affairs.”