OVH Energy Deal: Group files suit seeking N140bn  refund to FG

The Incorporated Trustees of Legal Defence Against Injustice Initiative has filed a suit seeking the refund of over N140 billion into the coffers of the Federal Government.

The fund is said to be connected to the acquisition of OVH Energy by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The originating summons, marked:CV/3104/2025, was filed by the plaintiff’s lawyer, Mr Festus Ugo, at the Abuja High Court.

The group sued NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer and its former Executive Vice President, Downstream, Mr Adedapo Segun; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

The suit, filed under public interest litigation, sought two issues for determination and five principal reliefs.

The plaintiff is urging the court to determine among others, wether the 1st defendant is not personally liable to account for and refund to the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria through the 2nd and 3rd defendants the total sum of 325.09 million dollars.

The amount it claimed was paid by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited under the remit of the 1st defendant as the Executive Vice President, Downstream in connection with the acquisition of the of OVH Energy by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited?

“An order of this Honourable Court directing the 1st defendant to pay forthwith into the treasury of the Federal Government of Nigeria [through the 2nd and 3rd defendants] the total sum of $325.09 million (N140.559 billion).

“An order of this Honourable Court directing the 2nd and 3rd defendants to forthwith prosecute 1st defendant in relation to the roles he played in connection with the acquisition of the of OVH Energy by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt and Warri Refineries.”

“An order of perpetual injunction barring the 1st defendant from holding any public office in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The suit came on the heels of recent revelation by the EFCC that it had recovered some funds that were diverted by both contractors and key officials of the NNPCL.

In the affidavit of facts in support of the suit, Patience Essien, a litigation secretary in the law firm, said she knew that despite the allegations against the 1st defendant, the EFCC was yet to file a charge against him.

“There is need for urgent intervention judicially to bring the 1st defendant to account.

“I make this oath in good faith and conscientiously believing same to be true and in accordance with the Oaths Act, 2004,” she deposed.

Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the matter to be heard.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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