The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP,
has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu at the Federal High Court
over the failure to publish spending details of money saved from fuel subsidy
on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly called petrol.
SERAP said the litigation followed reports that the Federal
Government had saved N400bn within the four weeks of the implementation of the
removal of subsidy on petrol policy.
A statement issued and made available on Sunday in Lagos by SERAP’s Deputy
Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the
organization is seeking “an order of the court to direct and compel Tinubu to
publish details of spending of about N400 billion saved as a result of the
removal of subsidy on petrol on from May 29, 2023.”
SERAP is arguing that “the government has a legal obligation to ensure that the savings from the removal of subsidy are spent for the benefits of poor Nigerians who it said are bearing the brunt of the removal.”
In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1514/2023 filed last week at the
Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct
and compel President Tinubu to provide details of the plans on how the savings
from the removal of subsidy on petrol, including specific projects on which the
funds would be spent.”
“An order of mandamus to compel President Tinubu to provide
details of the mechanisms that have been put in place to ensure that the
savings from the removal of subsidy on petrol are not diverted into private
pockets.”
In the suit, SERAP explained that “Nigerians have the right
to know how the savings are spent. Disclosing the spending details of the
savings would reduce the risks of corruption in the spending of the funds.”
“The Tinubu government has a legal obligation to ensure that
the savings from the removal of subsidy on petrol are spent solely for the
benefit of the 137 million poor Nigerians who are bearing the brunt of the
removal.”
The suit which was filed by Kolawole Oluwadare, Ms Adelanke
Aremo, and Ms Valentina Adegoke, on behalf of SERAP is arguing that the
“Opacity in the spending of the savings from subsidy removal would have
negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens and the public
interest.”
It said the action was brought to the court under 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.
”The Tinubu government has a legal obligation to protect
individuals against the threat posed to human rights by the removal of subsidy
on petrol and to effectively address the aftermath of subsidy removal,” the group
added.
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