‘Account for missing N500bn, invite EFCC, ICPC’, SERAP tells NNPC

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) Limited “to account for and explain the whereabouts of the missing N500 billion, which the NNPCL failed to remit to the Federation Account, between October 2024 and December 2024, as revealed by the World Bank.”

SERAP urged Mr Ojulari “to identify those suspected to be involved, surcharge them for the full amount involved, and hand them over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation and prosecution.”

SERAP also urged Mr Ojulari “to invite the EFCC and ICPC to investigate the spending and whereabouts of the N500 billion, and to ensure the full recovery and remittance of the money to the Federation Account without further delay.

Last week, the World Bank disclosed that out of the N1.1 trillion revenue from crude sales and other income in 2024, the NNPC only remitted N600bn, leaving a deficit of N500bn. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also recently called for the subsidy removal savings to be transferred to the national budget.

The NNPC Limited has recently been under intense scrutiny and audit, following the removal of its management team led by Mele Kyari. Anti-corruption agencies have also, in recent weeks, begun investigating some of the ousted officials.

In the Freedom of Information request dated 17 May, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “There is a legitimate public interest in explaining the whereabouts of the alleged missing N500 billion oil money and grave violations of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].”

SERAP said the country’s oil wealth ought to be used solely for the benefit of the Nigerian people and the sake of the present and future generations.

It argued that Nigerians have the right to know why the NNPC Limited failed to remit the subsidy removal savings to the Federation Account, and why the NNPCL is deliberately denying states and local governments their allocations from the account, contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].

The letter read in part: “Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of these missing public funds from the NNPCL meant for the economic development of the country.

“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.

“The missing oil revenue reflects a failure of NNPCL accountability more generally and is directly linked to the institution’s continuing failure to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability.”

Constitutional Provisions

SERAP argued that the Nigerian Constitution, the Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding the spending of their commonwealth.

It noted that the Supreme Court in a groundbreaking judgment recently declared that the Freedom of Information Act ‘is applicable and applies to the public records in the Federation’, including those kept by the NNPC Limited.

“SERAP is concerned that the Auditor-General of the Federation and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) have for many years documented reports of disappearance of oil money from the NNPCL.

“The allegations have undermined the economic development of the country, trapped the majority of Nigerians in poverty, and deprived them of opportunities.

“The failure by the NNPCL to remit the money to the Federation Account is a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, national anticorruption laws, and the country’s obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption,” the statement said.

It argued that despite the country’s enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption and the entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators.

Combating the corruption epidemic in the oil sector would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services, and enhance the ability of the government to meet its human rights and anti-corruption obligations, the civic group said.

According to our information, the World Bank recently disclosed that out of the N1.1 trillion revenue from crude sales and other income in 2024, the NNPCL only remitted N600bn, leaving a deficit of N500bn unaccounted for.

“The revenue and other income were expected to be paid into the Federation Account and shared by all levels of government, but the NNPCL reportedly failed to do so.

“SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power,” the letter reads.

NNPC’s Responsibility

SERAP noted that Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on the NNPC Limited to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the Constitution.

“Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources. Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on the NNPCL to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds,” it said.

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“These commitments ought to be fully upheld and respected. Explaining the spending details and whereabouts of the missing N500 billion public funds, identifying those suspected to be responsible and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice and the full recovery of any missing public funds would serve the public interest and end the impunity of perpetrators.”

The letter said the missing oil revenue has also impeded Nigerians’ ability to enjoy their economic and social rights, and denied them access to essential public goods and services, especially at the time of the cost-of-living crisis in the country.

It noted that it has further damaged the already precarious economy and contributed to very high levels of deficit spending by the government.

“Had the NNPCL accounted for and remitted the alleged missing N500 billion to the Federation Account, it is likely that more funds would have been allocated to the fulfilment of economic and social rights, such as increased spending on public goods and services.

“Without the full recovery and remittance of the missing N500 billion of oil revenue, the dire economic situation may worsen and Nigerians will continue to be denied access to basic public goods and services.”

“The Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee to everyone the right to information on the whereabouts of the missing N500 billion of oil revenue,” the letter read.