Dons Eze
WHY DSS INVADED SERAP OFFICE
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday raided the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in Abuja to grill its directors over the 48-hour ultimatum given to President Bola Tinubu’s government, SaharaReporters can report.
The organisation had given Tinubu’s government a 48-hour ultimatum to reverse the alarming and outrageous price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol and probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
In response to the ultimatum, widely reported on Sunday, the DSS invaded SERAP’s Abuja office the following day – Monday – demanding to see its directors.
However, sources familiar with the matter told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that Tinubu’s government sent the secret police after SERAP because of the ultimatum.
According to the sources, clearly, the government was not comfortable with the human rights organisation’s demand and threats of legal action against the government.
It was learnt that considering a series of legal actions SERAP has taken against Tinubu’s government, the ultimatum and threat of a legal action over the hike in the price of petrol was seen as a plot to incite the public to rise against Tinubu’s government.
SERAP had in an open letter dated September 7, 2024 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, gave President Tinubu 48 hours to reverse the recently increased fuel pump price or face legal action.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited recently increased the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets.
But SERAP urged President Tinubu to use his “leadership position and good offices to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets”.
“SERAP office was invaded because of the 48-hour ultimatum it gave to Tinubu’s government to reverse fuel price increase and probe NNPC Limited,” one of the sources said.
In its letter, SERAP urged the President to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies “to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, including the spending of the reported $300 million ‘bailout funds’ collected from the Federal Government in August 2024, and the $6 billion debt it owes suppliers, despite allegedly failing to remit oil revenues to the treasury.”
The organisation said, “Suspected perpetrators of alleged corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any proceeds of corruption should be fully recovered.”
According to SERAP, “The increase in petrol price constitutes a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country’s international human rights obligations.
“Nigerians have for far too long been denied justice and the opportunity to get to the bottom of why they continue to pay the price for corruption in the oil sector.”
SERAP said “Rather than pursuing public policies to address the growing poverty and inequality in the country, and holding the NNPC to account for the alleged corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector, your government seems to be punishing the poor.
“The increase in petrol price has rendered already impoverished citizens incapable of satisfying their minimum needs for survival.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 48 hours of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest,” it said.
On Monday, SERAP announced that some DSS officers had stormed its Abuja office, demanding to see its directors.
In a statement on Monday, it said, “Some officers from DSS today invaded our Abuja office. A tall, large, dark-skinned woman entered our office, accompanied by a slim, dark-skinned man.
