- Femi Falana has called on the federal government to end the allocation of oil blocks to individuals and corporate bodies
- The senior lawyer said he would not hesitate to file a suit against government should it fail to heed its request
- According to Falana, there should be restriction to the allocation of oil blocks, including marginal fields to the federal government and the governments of the 36 states of the federation
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has urged the federal government to end the allocation of oil blocks to individuals and corporate bodies.
In a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari on dated Wednesday, March 20, Falana said he would not hesitate to file a suit against government should it fail to heed its request.
The Nation reports that Falana urged government to restrict the allocation of oil blocks, including marginal fields to the federal government and the governments of the 36 states of the Federation.
Citing Section 16 (1) (b) of the Constitution said the allocation of oil blocks to a few individuals and corporate bodies by the federal government constitutes a gross violation of the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people to freedom from discrimination, equal right of access to public property and in the equal enjoyment of the common heritage of mankind as well as the right to social, economic and cultural development guaranteed by articles 2, 13, 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.
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He said: “Therefore, pursuant to article 22 thereof which has imposed a duty on the Federal Government to freely dispose of the wealth and national resources of the nation in the exclusive interests of the Nigerian people we urge Your Excellency to desist from allocating oil and blocks to a select group of Nigerians and foreigners."
He added that, “By merely collecting huge rents, the oil block owners become stupendously rich while the federal, state and local governments depend on loans and bailout to pay salaries and carry out basic infrastructural development of the country.
“Thus, by allocating oil blocks to a few individuals and corporate bodies the federal government has violated Section 16(2)(c) of the Constitution which provides that “the economic system is not operated in such a manner as to permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of few individuals or of a group,” Falana said.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo revealed its intention to investigate the ownership of all oil blocks in Niger Delta.
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The apex pan Igbo organisation said the investigation will be done to ensure that no part of the country dominates the sector.
It said it would also collect data on all positions and their distributions in all federal ministries, agencies and parastatals with a view to ensuring fair distribution to all parts of the country, The Nation reports.
Ohanaeze advised the Federal Character Commission to ensure fair representation of all sections of the country in the country’s commonwealth without sacrificing merit.
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Source: Legit.ng
