SERAP seeks court order for probe of alleged $2.1b, N3.1tr subsidy fraud — Federal High Court, Lagos

SERAP has prayed the Federal High Court, Lagos for an order of mandamus compelling President Bola Tinubu to investigate the Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF) on allegations that between 2016 and 2019, $2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion of public funds budgeted for fuel subsidy payment are missing and unaccounted for.

It is also asking the court for an order granting leave to it, to apply for judicial review to enable it seek an order of mandamus compelling the President to direct anti-corruption agencies to probe all fuel subsidy payment by successive administrations since the return of democracy in 1999.

The sought orders are contained in a motion ex parte marked FHC/L/CS/1107/2023, filed before the court, by the group’s lawyer, Oluwadare Kolawole.

SERAP also seeks an order to apply for judicial review to enable it seek an order of mandamus directing and compelling the anti-corruption agencies to duly name and shame anyone suspected to be responsible for the alleged widespread and systemic corruption in the use of oil revenues and management of public funds budgeted as fuel subsidy, and to ensure effective prosecution, as well as full recovery of any proceeds of crime.

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The organisation equally requested an order granting leave to apply for judicial review to enable it seek an order of mandamus directing and compelling Tinubu to use any recovered proceeds of crime as palliatives to address impact of the subsidy removal on poor Nigerians.

It also asked the court for an order granting leave, to apply for judicial review to enable it seek an order of mandamus directing and compelling the President Tinubu to put in place mechanisms for accountability and transparency in the oil sector.

SERAP stated that the motion is pursuant to Order 34 Rules 1(1)(A)(b); 2; 3(1)(2)(A)(b)(c) and 4 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019 and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

Consequently, Justice Peter Lifu has fixed June 21 to hear the motion.

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Related topics: Federal High Court SERAP Subsidy fraud