SERAP has dragged NNPCL to court over alleged ₦5.9bn spent on rebranding.
According to SERAP, the NNPC reportedly spent ₦2.9 billion from petroleum product proceeds on incorporation expenses, while the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) allegedly charged another ₦2.9 billion to crude oil revenues for similar transition-related costs, bringing the total expenditure to about ₦5.9 billion.
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The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1248/2026, was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Sunday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said it is seeking an order of mandamus compelling NNPCL to provide a detailed account of how the funds were spent.
The legal action, filed by SERAP’s lawyers, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, is also asking the court to direct NNPCL to provide a comprehensive reconciliation statement outlining all financial transactions connected to the expenditure.
SERAP wants the company to disclose the identities of contractors involved in the rebranding exercise, the specific services rendered, and how the funds were utilised during the transition from NNPC to NNPCL.
The organisation further requested that NNPCL reveal the names and official positions of government officials who authorised and approved the release and expenditure of the funds, as well as clarify whether the spending complied with procurement laws and due-process requirements.
According to SERAP, the Senate Committee on Public Accounts had previously raised concerns about the expenditure, questioning its justification and calling for further investigation.
“The Committee described the spending of the ₦5.9 billion as excessive, unjustifiable, and deserving of further explanation, investigation, and legislative scrutiny in the public interest,” the organisation stated.
SERAP argued that there is a strong public interest in ensuring transparency and accountability regarding the expenditure of public funds.
“The NNPCL has a legal responsibility to explain whether the ₦5.9 billion expenditure represents value for money, constitutes lawful spending of public funds, and complies with applicable due-process requirements,” the group said.
The organisation maintained that Nigerians have the right to know who approved the expenditure, who benefited from the funds, the nature of the services provided, and whether all procurement procedures were properly followed.
According to SERAP, disclosing the identities of the officials involved and the approval process would enable citizens to assess whether the expenditure was justified, properly authorised, and in compliance with applicable laws.
The group stressed that the size of the expenditure makes it imperative for NNPCL to provide a prompt, transparent, and comprehensive explanation.
SERAP also linked the issue to broader concerns about accountability within the state-owned oil company, arguing that the failure to account for the spending reflects deeper transparency challenges.
The organisation noted that the transformation of NNPC into NNPCL was carried out under the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which converted the corporation into a commercially oriented limited liability company wholly owned by the Federal Government.
To support its case, SERAP cited constitutional provisions, including Sections 13 and 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, as well as international anti-corruption frameworks such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
As of the time of filing this report, no hearing date has been scheduled by the court.
The lawsuit adds to growing calls for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public resources within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
