SERAP not scared by FG’s actions, says deputy director
Deputy Director of the Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP), Kolawole Dare, has said the body will not be intimidated by the Federal Government’s actions and will file a public interest lawsuit at the Federal High Court to compel President Bola Tinubu to comply with its request to direct the reversal of the fuel pump price and probe allegations of corruption against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
The Deputy Director asserted in a statement, yesterday, following the Department of State Services officers’ invasion of SERAP’s Abuja office on Monday.
Recall that on Sunday, the organisation, in a statement signed by the Deputy Director, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu to instruct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, to immediately reverse the recent hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol.
The group had also asked the President to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and other relevant agencies to probe allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the NNPCL.
Barely 24 hours later, SERAP raised the alarm of the raid on its office on its official X handle on Monday while calling on President Tinubu to intervene.
“President Tinubu must immediately direct the SSS to end the harassment, intimidation and attack on the rights of Nigerians,” the X post partly read. Reacting to the actions against SERAP, Dare said the rights group would not be intimidated.
“We are not intimidated by the actions of the government, including the invasion of our office by the DSS. SERAP is fully committed to its mandate to use legal advocacy to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria. SERAP will continue to work to challenge any attempt to restrict, silence, or eliminate the voices of credible civil society in the country,” he said.
ALSO, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) has condemned what it described as ‘the unshaded onslaught against democracy’ by state apparatus under the administration of President Tinubu. Founding Director, WARDC, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said the government’s attacks against SERAP, by the State Security Service should stop.
“It is alarming that President Tinubu, who actively participated in democratic struggles, is now leading the campaign against civil rights.
“We condemn, in absolute terms, the attack against Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) by the State Security Service, and all forms of intimidation or harassment whether directly or indirectly.”
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