Abuja, Nigeria — An Abuja-based civic advocacy group, Rights for All International, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Mr. Dapo Segun, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), over alleged involvement in multibillion-dollar financial fraud.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1580/2025, filed on Monday, lists the EFCC as the first respondent and Mr. Segun as the second. The group is accusing the anti-graft agency of failing to discharge its statutory duty by allegedly shielding the NNPCL CFO from ongoing investigations into the controversial acquisition of OVH Energy and the protracted rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
Orders Sought
In its application, Rights for All International is asking the court for an Order of Mandamus directing the EFCC to, within seven days, commence an investigation into Segun’s role in both transactions and to publish the report within 14 days of completion. The group also wants the court to compel the EFCC to arrest and prosecute him if indicted.
Additionally, the applicant is seeking an interim order directing Segun to step aside from his position as CFO to prevent possible interference with documents and records relevant to the probe.
Grounds for the Legal Action
The civic group alleges that, in his capacity as former Executive Vice President (Downstream) and now CFO of NNPCL, Segun oversaw the 2022 acquisition of OVH Energy Marketing — owners of the Oando downstream assets — under questionable circumstances. It claims the purchase price, pegged at $325.09 million (₦140.559 billion), was concealed from the public and remains a subject of controversy currently under investigation by the House of Representatives.
The group further alleges that during Segun’s tenure, about $3 billion was sunk into the rehabilitation of the refineries without significant results. It accuses top NNPCL officials of product racketeering and other illicit practices under his supervision.
Selective Investigation Alleged
According to the suit, while the EFCC has initiated investigations into certain NNPCL officials — including Group CEO Mele Kyari and 13 others — Segun has been “deliberately excluded” despite his alleged central role in the matters under probe. The group insists this selective approach amounts to an abuse of power and is contrary to the EFCC’s statutory mandate.
“The position of trust held by the second respondent gives him unfettered access to sensitive records, which could be altered or destroyed,” the group argued in its filing. “Allowing him to remain in office undermines the integrity of the investigation and is against the national interest.”
Court Requests and Next Steps
The applicant has also asked for leave to serve the court processes on Segun via NNPCL’s Legal Department at its Abuja headquarters. It is further seeking an order abridging the time for the respondents to file their defences to seven days, as well as an accelerated hearing of the case.
No date has yet been fixed for the hearing.
If granted, the group’s requests could see the EFCC broaden its investigation into one of the most controversial transactions in recent NNPCL history, with potential implications for the ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
