The Incorporated Trustees of Legal Defence Against Injustice Initiative has filed a suit seeking the recovery of more than N140 billion paid by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) during its acquisition of OVH Energy.
The originating summons, marked CV/3104/2025, was filed at the Abuja High Court by the group’s lawyer, Mr Festus Ugo. The lawsuit names NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, its former Executive Vice President, Downstream, Mr Adedapo Segun, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as first, second, and third defendants, respectively.
Filed under public interest litigation, the suit seeks determination on two key issues and five principal reliefs. Among its requests, the plaintiff asks the court to establish whether the first defendant is personally liable to refund $325.09 million, equivalent to N140.559 billion, to the Federal Government through the EFCC and the AGF.
The suit further seeks: “A court order directing the first defendant to pay the sum of $325.09 million immediately into the Federal Government treasury.
“An order compelling the second and third defendants to prosecute the first defendant for his role in the OVH Energy acquisition and the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries.
“A perpetual injunction barring the first defendant from holding any public office in Nigeria.”
The legal action follows recent EFCC disclosures that it had recovered funds allegedly diverted by contractors and key NNPCL officials.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Patience Essien, a litigation secretary at the law firm, noted that despite allegations against the first defendant, the EFCC had yet to file charges. She described judicial intervention as urgent to ensure accountability.
“There is need for urgent judicial intervention to bring the first defendant to account,” Essien stated, adding that she swore the affidavit in good faith in accordance with the Oaths Act, 2004.
No hearing date has been set for the matter.
