The Coalition of Nigerian Legal Practitioners has said it would mobilise 1000 lawyers to protest against the hike in fuel price on November 2, at the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) in Abuja.

This is even as the coalition had already petitioned President Bola Tinubu, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; the Department of State Services (DSS) over scarcity and arbitrary price increase in Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS).

The lawyers claimed that the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), should be held responsible for the problem and that he should be removed.

Their petition was contained in a letter, dated October 30, 2023, and titled: ‘Petition Against the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and a Call for his Immediate Sack’, and signed by Bernard Adesina, Peter Agbonghan, Igwe Chukwudi

According to them, the rampant price increase of Premium Motor Spirit was unwarranted as it has caused untold hardship on Nigerians.

The petition read: “We are writing you on behalf of a coalition of Nigerian legal practitioners who are desirous of good governance, delivery of public good and welfare of the Nigerian people.

“We are writing you in connection with the recent hike in the pump prices of petrol. It is unwarranted scarcity across the country and the attendant hardship on Nigerians, which has drastically affected the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians.

“As concerned citizens we wish to emphatically state that immediate action is imperative in order to arrest the current debilitating situation.

“Under the current leadership of the present Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the NNPCL, the company has failed woefully in its role to ensure adequate supply of petroleum products in the country leading to skyrocketing cost of transportation, inflation of food prices and other untold hardships.

“We, therefore, wish to express our disappointment and to categorically state that we have lost faith in the capability and competence of the current GCEO to deliver on the mandate of the company.

“It is our considered view that the NNPCL needs a change in leadership at this juncture in order to allow fresh brawn and grit that thinks out of the box to inject fresh ideas and strategy to drive the company forward.

“We, therefore, call for the immediate sack of the current GCEO of the NNPCL who has demonstrably failed to effectively lead the company. We therefore ask that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu relieves the current GCEO of his duties and sack him from his position.”

The letter continued: “To demonstrate the gravity and urgency of the situation, we will mobilize over 1,000 Lawyers to hold a national press conference and rally on the 2^nd of November 2023 in which Nigerian news organizations in the print, radio, TV, and online media will be invited as we give voice to the pains and anguish of millions of Nigerians caused by the unwarranted, insensitive and callous hike in the pump price of petrol despite the excruciating pains Nigerians are already suffering because of the present dire economic situation, and also the inexplicable scarcity of petroleum products.

“We have also concluded plans to proceed to court to ensure that our demands are met.

“We therefore, urge you (Tinubu) to use your good office to take immediate and necessary decisive actions to address the present issue of fuel crisis.

“We equally urge the President to assess the performance of the NNPCL’s Board of Directors and the current GCEO, dissolve/sack them and that expected sanctions be meted out in order to save Nigerians from this unnecessary crisis and hardship.

“It is our strong belief that for the NNPCL to find its bearings and rediscover itself in order to fulfill its mandate, there needs to be a total overhaul of its leadership.

“This will definitely go a long way in restoring the confidence that Nigerians have reposed in the Company.

“Thank you in anticipation of your most favourable and swift response. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.” (Daily Sun)

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