The coalition called on the Department of State Services to release its security report on Ararume during his screening by the National Assembly while hinting at a major protest against the judgment in Abuja next week.
According to the groups, under the aegis of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Good Governance, the security report by the DSS on Ararume would give a clear indication of why he was dropped from the board of the NNPCL.
Convener of the CCSGGG, Dominic Ogakwu, issued the protest notice and made the call to the DSS in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, titled ‘Ararume vs. NNPCL: Coalition Urges DSS to Release Security Report, Plans Protest.’
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on Tuesday nullified Ararume’s sacking by the President and reinstated him as Non-Executive Chairman of the NNPCL. In the judgment delivered by Justice Ikwo Inyang, the court had also awarded him N5bn in damages.
The President had on Wednesday sued for calm from all parties involved in the board chairmanship tussle, saying due process would take its course.
Ogakwu stated, “We have undertaken to express our dismay by protesting in Abuja next week, as the judiciary cannot be seen to overreach itself, which, unfortunately, has become the common denominator over the past few weeks. The political implication of what has happened in this matter is not lost on those of us that are watching events in the oil and gas sector keenly. After a hitch-free transition from the wholly owned government entity to a public liability company, and focused administration since the unbundling, this judgment seeks to muddy the waters and allow elements with less than noble intentions to undermine the operations of the NNPC Limited.
“We had imagined that the courts would take into account not just the national interest but also the international dimension and not project Nigeria as an unstable oil and gas investment destination.”
Ogakwu commended the President for indicating that the Federal Government was appealing the judgment.
“It is gratifying that President Buhari has directed that the judgment be appealed and that the CAMA does not supersede the constitutional provisions of the president to hire and fire any appointee of government. We are also pleased to note a groundswell of opposition to the judgment and we hope that when the federal government appeals the controversial judgment, the appellate court will see reason not to allow the miscarriage of just to stand,” he stated.
On January 5, 2022, Buhari appointed the Board and Management of the NNPCL, replacing Ararume with Margery Okadigbo, widow of the late Chuba Okadigbo who was Buhari’s running mate in the 2003 presidential election.
He also named Mele Kyari as Chief Executive Officer and Umar Ajiya as Chief Financial Officer.
The appointment came barely five months after Buhari signed into law the Petroleum Industry Act (2021).
In September 2021 the President had written to the Senate on the administrative structure amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act, which included the appointment of Non-Executive Board Members, removal of the Ministries of Petroleum and Finance from the Board of the two new institutions, and appointment of Executive Directors.
The appointments took effect from the date of the incorporation of the NNPCL on September 29, 2021.
However, Ararume’s replacement set off a long legal battle that culminated in his favour on Tuesday.
