By Atoyebi Nike
A non-governmental organisation, the Incorporated Trustees of Legal Defence Against Injustice Initiative, has filed a suit at the Abuja High Court against Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) executive, Adedapo Segun, seeking the refund of N140 billion ($325.09 million) allegedly linked to the company’s acquisition of OVH Energy.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the group wants the Court to compel Segun, who is NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer and former Executive Vice President, Downstream, to return the funds to the Federal Government’s treasury.
The plaintiff also urged the Court to order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to prosecute Segun over his role in the OVH acquisition and transactions involving the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
The summons, marked CV/3104/2025, was filed by lawyer Festus Ugo on behalf of the group. It seeks two key orders: first, that Segun refund $325.09 million (about N140.6 billion) to the treasury, and second, that the EFCC and AGF commence prosecution. The group also asked for a perpetual injunction restraining him from holding public office.
Filed as a public interest case, the suit names Segun, the EFCC, and the AGF as defendants. It follows recent EFCC disclosures of funds recovered from contractors and NNPCL officials, which the plaintiff argued had not led to charges, hence the need for judicial action.
The acquisition of OVH Energy in 2022 was billed as a strategic move to expand NNPCL’s retail presence. It added 380 filling stations to its network, a reception jetty with a 240,000-metric-ton monthly capacity, eight LPG plants, three lube blending plants, three aviation depots, and 12 warehouses.
An affidavit supporting the case described it as a good-faith effort to ensure accountability in public finance.
