Reverse petrol price pending court verdict, SERAP tells Tinubu

• As OPC, Baptist leader, others give damning verdicts on FG’s policies
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the second increase in petrol prices, pending the hearing and determination of the suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja challenging the legality of the powers of the NNPCL to increase petrol prices.

SERAP had, last month, filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the President and NNPCL over the failure to reverse the alleged unlawful increase in the pump price of petrol and to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL.

Joined in the suit as respondent, is the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). The suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1361/2024.

In an open letter at the weekend, signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said the latest increase in petrol prices made a mockery of the case pending before the Federal High Court and created a risk that the course of justice would be seriously impeded or prejudiced in this case.

According to SERAP, one of the fundamental principles of the rule of law is that it applies to everyone, including the President and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of public institutions.

Increasing petrol prices while the Federal High Court case was pending, SERAP said, would prejudice and undermine the ability of the court to do justice in the case, damage public confidence in the court, prejudice the outcome of the case and impede the course of justice.

IN another development, the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Dr Israel Akanji, has called on President Bola Tinubu to address the issue of fuel price hikes.

Akanji made the call at the weekend while fielding questions from journalists during the dedication of a new church building, Triumphant Baptist Church, Akowonjo, with the theme: “A Glorious Rehoboth.”

Lamenting the adverse effects the rise in the pump price of fuel had on Nigerians, Akanji said: “Once you touch fuel, it has a way of touching the whole country and that is why we are still pleading that government should set in with more practicals and actions to lessen the cost of fuel for the common people of this nation. Fuel affects everything, it affects the cost of food items, it affects school fees, it affects house rent, it affects our movement and transportation, it affects farmers, hospital bills are increased and everybody is affected.”

SIMILARLY, Awake Initiative for Family Relation, Ethics and Development (AiFreD) and Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), New Era, yesterday, said policies of the President Bola Tinubu-led government were anti-people and inflictinghardship on citizens.

The Director of AiFreD, Angel Folorunso, and National Publicity Secretary of OPC, Sina Akinpelu, stated these in chats with The Guardian in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The two warned Tinubu against the repercussions of continuously inflicting pain, hunger and hardship on Nigerians.

Folorunso, who is also the Osun State Coordinator of the Initiative for Better and Brighter Nigeria (IBBN), said: “It is established that President Bola Tinubu has nothing to offer Nigerians other than hardships, hunger and economic catastrophe.”

Folorunso, a former Mass Communication lecturer, added: “Tinubu government is not only bereft of positive outcome-creating ideas but also dangerously adamant about continuing the oppressive hope-dashing socio-economic activities with their excruciatingly scorching effects on the masses”.

In his comments, the OPC spokesperson said: “Things are hard because President Tinubu’s policies are anti-people. People are finding it difficult to feed.

“The Yoruba are known to be the symbol and pillar of democracy in Nigeria. The people fought for the restoration of democracy. Ironically, a Yoruba man is the President and the people are turning to beggars. If the Yoruba turn against him, he will not be able to face its consequences.”