Lawyers seek Court order to suspend NNPCL executive pending investigation

Four concerned constitutional lawyers have commenced legal proceedings before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking an ex parte order to suspend the Executive Vice-President, Downstream, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mumuni Dagazau, pending the conclusion of an investigation by the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream).

The lawyers, Ejike Onukaogu, Gloria Ezeji, Daniel Edeachi and Akor Friday, filed the suit marked M/15759/2026, asking the court to determine whether Dagazau can lawfully continue to occupy the office while facing legislative scrutiny over allegations of corruption, money laundering, abuse of office and other related matters.

In an originating summons filed before the court, the claimants also want the court to determine whether President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a constitutional obligation to take steps to suspend the NNPCL executive in the interest of transparency, accountability and the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

According to the claimants, temporarily relieving the official of his duties would help protect the integrity of the investigation and reduce the risk of actual or perceived interference with the inquiry.

They contend that the continued exercise of the powers attached to the office under the circumstances described in the suit raises concerns that warrant judicial intervention.

Among the reliefs sought, the lawyers are asking the court to issue an order restraining Dagazau from continuing to discharge the duties and functions of Executive Vice-President, Downstream, pending the conclusion of the House of Representatives committee’s investigation.

They are also seeking an order directing the President, the NNPCL Board of Directors or the appropriate authority, as determined by the court, to take the necessary steps to suspend the executive while the investigation is ongoing.

The claimants further want the court to determine whether his continued occupation of the office is consistent with the principles of fairness, accountability and the protection of the public interest.

They are also asking the court to consider whether interim measures are necessary to protect the integrity of the legislative investigation and preserve public confidence in the institutions responsible for managing the country’s petroleum resources.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit, which was filed on behalf of the lawyers by their counsel, Samuel Momoh.

Speaking with journalists at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja, the group’s representative, Ejike Onukaogu, a legal practitioner, said the allegations were serious enough to warrant the executive’s temporary withdrawal from office while the investigation was ongoing.

He said the suit, filed on Wednesday, was intended to protect the integrity of the investigation initiated by the House of Representatives Committee on the Petroleum Downstream Sector.

Onukaogu explained that the lawyers were not seeking the executive’s resignation or suggesting that he was guilty of any wrongdoing, but wanted him to step aside to ensure transparency and public confidence in the investigative process.

“Nobody has proved any guilt against him. So he should step aside in order to preserve the integrity of the investigation against him,” he said.