Youth Leaders, Lawyers Sue NNPCL CFO, Seek Prosecution

Human rights lawyers and youth leaders have again filed a legal action at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, seeking the sack and prosecution of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited chief financial officer, Mr Dapo Segun, over refinery rehabilitation in the country.

In the suit, they are seeking the sack, arrest, investigation, and prosecution of the former EVP downstream officer whose tenure saw the refinery rehabilitation that cost Nigeria over N5 trillion.

The case, with suit number FHC/CS/157/2025 is a judicial review seeking numerous declarations and mandamus against the EFCC and Dapo Segun by a group of constitutional lawyers and leadership of ethnic youth leaders.

The counsel, M.O Osuji, Esq on behalf of the applicant 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 1st Defendant to commence investigation of the activities and role of the 2nd 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 PortHarcourt and Warri Refineries.

“An interim order of court directing the 2nd Respondent (Dapo Segun) to forthwith step aside as the Chief Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited 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, the order granting leave to the Applicant, Motion on Notice for Judicial Review and any other process(es) in this Suit on the 2nd 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.”

Osuji noted that their major concern as lawyers is that 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.

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 yet we are yet to see its true potential. It’s not hasty, April from now is about 4 months ago, in the circular issued that they have commenced investigation. What I expected 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 we have a duty, to assist the EFCC, the law, the presidency in fighting corruption, that’s why we’ve brought this action for the court to mandate them to investigate the man who’s at the helm of affairs.”