SERAP Office Invaded By DSS Over Its 48-Hour Ultimatum To Tinubu On Petrol Price Hike, NNPC Probe –Sources

3 months ago 20

The organisation had given Tinubu’s government a 48-hour ultimatum to reverse the alarming and outrageous price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol and probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday raided the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in Abuja to grill its directors over the 48-hour ultimatum given to President Bola Tinubu’s government, SaharaReporters can report.

In response to the ultimatum, widely reported on Sunday, the DSS invaded SERAP’s Abuja office the following day – Monday – demanding to see its directors.

However, sources familiar with the matter told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that Tinubu’s government sent the secret police after SERAP because of the ultimatum.

According to the sources, clearly, the government was not comfortable with the human rights organisation’s demand and threats of legal action against the government.

It was learnt that considering a series of legal actions SERAP has taken against Tinubu’s government, the ultimatum and threat of a legal action over the hike in the price of petrol was seen as a plot to incite the public to rise against Tinubu’s government.

SaharaReporters reported on Sunday that SERAP in an open letter dated September 7, 2024 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, gave President Tinubu 48 hours to reverse the recently increased fuel pump price or face legal action.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited recently increased the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets.

But SERAP urged President Tinubu to use his "leadership position and good offices to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets".

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“SERAP office was invaded because of the 48-hour ultimatum it gave to Tinubu’s government to reverse fuel price increase and probe NNPC Limited,” one of the sources said.

In its letter, SERAP urged the President to "direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies "to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, including the spending of the reported $300 million 'bailout funds' collected from the Federal Government in August 2024, and the $6 billion debt it owes suppliers, despite allegedly failing to remit oil revenues to the treasury."

The organisation said, "Suspected perpetrators of alleged corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any proceeds of corruption should be fully recovered."

According to SERAP, "The increase in petrol price constitutes a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country's international human rights obligations.

"Nigerians have for far too long been denied justice and the opportunity to get to the bottom of why they continue to pay the price for corruption in the oil sector."

SERAP said "Rather than pursuing public policies to address the growing poverty and inequality in the country, and holding the NNPC to account for the alleged corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector, your government seems to be punishing the poor.

"The increase in petrol price has rendered already impoverished citizens incapable of satisfying their minimum needs for survival.”

"We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 48 hours 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 your government to comply with our request in the public interest," it said.

On Monday, SERAP announced that some DSS officers had stormed its Abuja office, demanding to see its directors.

In a statement on Monday, it said, “Some officers from DSS today invaded our Abuja office. A tall, large, dark-skinned woman entered our office, accompanied by a slim, dark-skinned man.

“Other officers were sighted in two unmarked vehicles stationed outside our office. The officers who interrogated our office requested to see our directors.

“The invasion of SERAP's office followed our call on Mr Tinubu and his government to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in the pump price of petrol and to ensure the prompt and thorough investigation of alleged corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC.”

SERAP, therefore, condemned the “invasion of our Abuja office today by Nigeria's Department of State Services (DSS)”.

It called on President Tinubu to “immediately direct Nigeria's Department of State Services (DSS) to end the intimidation and harassment and attack against our organization and the threat of arrest against our directors."

It said the administration “must immediately direct the DSS to end the intimidation and harassment of SERAP and our staff members."

"Nigerian authorities must end the harassment and intimidation attacks against SERAP and ensure the safety and security of our staff," it added.

"If the Tinubu government does not take all necessary measures to immediately end the intimidation and harassment of SERAP or any other civil society group for that matter, SERAP will to take appropriate legal action nationally and internationally to challenge the brutal crackdown and hold the authorities to account for their constitutional and international human rights obligations."

Meanwhile, a human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mr Femi Falana also condemned the invasion of SERAP’s office by the DSS on Monday.

Falana called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the invasion, saying, "We condemn the invasion of SERAP's office. The Tinubu government must urgently fish out the officers who carried out the invasion of SERAP's office in the name of the government.

“Anyone found to be responsible for the invasion must be prosecuted. The government must allow human rights defenders to freely carry out their work, consistent with the Nigerian Constitution."

Efforts made by SaharaReporters to reach SERAP’s directors at the time of filing this report failed as none of their mobile lines were available.

Meanwhile, last week, the DSS redeployed its spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, and has not named his replacement.

While addressing a press conference at the headquarters of the service in Abuja, Afunanya explained that the new media policy of the service is to be less visible in the media and public spaces.

This decision marks a return to the service's previous practice of operating in an opaque manner, characterised by a lack of openness and transparency in its dealings with the public and media.

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