Civil Group, Lawyers Sue NNPC CFO Over Alleged Mismanagement of Port Harcourt Refinery Funds
A coalition of the Ethnic Youth Leaders of Nigeria, working in concert with a team of constitutional lawyers, has instituted legal proceedings at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt against the Chief Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Dapo Segun, over alleged mismanagement of funds earmarked for the Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation project.
The suit, filed under number FHC/CS/157/2025, seeks judicial orders compelling Segun’s removal from office, arrest, investigation, and prosecution. The plaintiffs allege that during his tenure as Executive Vice President (Downstream), the rehabilitation process was mismanaged, resulting in a reported loss of over ₦5 trillion to Nigeria.
This latest action comes amid previous allegations raised by various civic groups and reform‑minded Nigerians who have been advocating for greater transparency and accountability within the oil and gas sector. Public demands for Segun’s resignation, suspension, and prosecution have continued to gather momentum nationwide.
Lead counsel for the applicants, M.O. Osuji, is seeking the court’s leave to apply for an order of mandamus directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to open a formal investigation into Segun’s role in both the acquisition of OVH Energy by the NNPCL and the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
The plaintiffs further request an interim order compelling Segun to immediately step aside as CFO and to refrain from performing any official duties or altering documents that may be material to the EFCC investigation, pending the determination of the substantive motion for judicial review.
Additionally, the applicants seek permission to serve all court processes on Segun by substituted means — specifically, by delivering them to the Legal Department of the NNPCL headquarters in Abuja — and request that the matter be given accelerated hearing by the court.
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, Osuji expressed concern that despite EFCC’s commendable initial steps into refinery turnaround maintenance dealings, Segun, who was in charge during the relevant period and also linked to the OVH acquisition, has not been invited for questioning. He stressed that lawyers have a duty to assist the EFCC, the law, and the presidency in the anti‑corruption fight, hence the decision to bring this action to compel investigation into Segun’s conduct.
