A coalition of over 25 civil society organisations called on the Department of State Security (DSS) to release its security report on Senator Ifeanyi Ararume after the Federal High Court in Abuja reinstated him as the non-executive chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Limited (NNPCL) and hinted at a significant protest in Abuja the following week.
In Abuja, the Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CCSGGG) stated that the secret police security report would explain why Ararume was removed from the NNPCL board. It called Judge Ikwo Inyang’s ruling a presidential usurpation.
“We are confident that the DSS report will show the character of Sen. Ararume as unfit for such an office, while we find it curious that the constitutional prerogative of the president to hire and fire, especially in a sensitive entity like the NNPC Limited, can brazenly be usurped by the courts,” said coalition convener Comrade Dominic Ogakwu.
He said, “We have pledged to voice our dismay by protesting in Abuja next week as the judiciary cannot be perceived to overreach itself, which, sadly, has been the common denominator over the past few weeks.”
“Those of us closely following oil and gas activities understand the political implications of this problem.” Despite a smooth transition from a government institution to a public liability corporation and focused administration since the unbundling, this verdict tries to muddy the waters and empower unscrupulous forces to attack NNPC Limited.
We expected the courts to consider both national and foreign interests and not portray Nigeria as an unstable oil and gas investment destination.
Ogakwu praised President Muhammadu Buhari for indicating the federal government would appeal the ruling.
“It is encouraging that President Buhari has ordered an appeal and that the CAMA does not trump the president’s constitutional authority to employ and discharge government appointees.”
“We are also glad to notice a wave of dissent to the ruling, and we hope that when the federal government appeals the contentious judgement, the appellate court will see a reason not to allow the miscarriage of justice to stand,” the CCSGGG convener said.
