SERAP drags NNPCL to court over ₦5.9 billion rebranding money

SERAP has filed a lawsuit against NNPCL for failing to account for ₦5.9 billion allegedly spent on rebranding from NNPC to NNPCL. The suit, number FHC/ABJ/CS/1248/2026, was filed last week at the Federal High Court in Abuja. SERAP is asking for an order of mandamus to compel NNPCL to explain how this money was spent, including the identities of contractors and officials who approved it.

Let me break this down for you. NNPC reportedly paid N2.9 billion for incorporation expenses from petroleum product proceeds. NAPIMS also charged N2.9 billion to crude oil revenue for the same purpose. So total, ₦5.9 billion went into changing the name from NNPC to NNPCL. The Senate Committee on Public Accounts already described this spending as excessive, unjustifiable, and deserving of investigation. But nothing has happened since then.

SERAP is arguing that this reflects a grave violation of public trust and the Nigerian Constitution. They say Nigerians have the right to know who approved this money, who received it, and whether due process was followed. So my question is simple: If the Senate committee already flagged this as excessive, why is it still business as usual at NNPCL? Who is protecting the people behind this waste?