By Nudoiba Ojen
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has urged the Minister of Finance, Olawale Edun, to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to remit the sum of $34.2bn to the Federation account.
Falana said that the amount totaling $34.2 billion was received on behalf of the Government of Nigeria from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited from 2004 to 2021.
Falana said that he would initiate legal proceedings at the Federal High Court for the immediate recovery of the money from the NNPCL if the finance minster failed to direct that the money be remitted to the Federation account.
The human rights lawyer made this known in a letter dated October 24, and titled, ‘Request To Recover $34.2bn Being Dividend Collected By NNPCL On Behalf Of The Federation’, addresses to the Minister.
Falana, in the letter, recalled instances where monies were said to have been remitted by the NLNG to the NNPCL.
The senior advocate said he would not hesitate to initiate legal proceedings at the Federal High Court for the immediate recovery of the said sum of $34.2 billion from the NNPCL if the finance minster fails to direct that the money be remitted to the Federation account.
Falana said, “We shall also pray the Court to direct the NLNG to remit dividends earned by Nigeria to the Federation Account forthwith.”