heda, Author at HEDA Resource Centre

Fake Agencies, Ghost Workers: HEDA Commends Tinubu’s Directive on Forensic Audit, Urges Swift Prosecution of Perpetrators

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing a comprehensive forensic audit of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), federal agencies and related government systems following disturbing revelations of fictitious government entities, ghost workers and systemic control failures. In a statement signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the anti-corruption group described the directive as an important step towards uncovering the full extent of the weaknesses that have enabled fraud, impersonation and the diversion of public resources within the Federal Government. While welcoming the forensic audit, HEDA urged the Federal Government to ensure that the exercise is conducted independently, transparently and without political interference. According to Suraju, the audit must not become another administrative exercise that produces reports without consequences. Its findings should provide a clear basis for institutional reforms, recovery of public funds and criminal accountability. “HEDA particularly calls on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to move swiftly on all evidence of criminal conduct uncovered during the investigations. “Where individuals are found to have created fictitious agencies, falsified government records, impersonated public officials, facilitated ghost-worker schemes or unlawfully accessed public resources, they must be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he added. The group also urged the relevant prosecutorial authorities to ensure that cases arising from the investigations are diligently pursued to their logical conclusion. Those found guilty must face the full consequences of the law, while public funds established to have been fraudulently obtained must be traced and recovered. Beyond individual prosecutions, Suraju further demanded that the forensic audit result in concrete reforms to the government’s institutional architecture. Government must ensure that the exercise establishes not only who committed the offences, but also how the system allowed such conduct to occur and who enabled or failed to prevent it. HEDA further recommended that the outcome of the forensic audit, subject to legitimate security and investigative considerations, should be made sufficiently public to enable citizens to understand the scale of the problem and the measures being taken to address it.

August 31, 2026August 31, 2026 By heda 0

HEDA News

HEDA Demands Transparency as Senate Probes Oil Companies Over NEITI Audit Queries

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called for full transparency and public accountability in the Senate’s ongoing investigation into audit queries involving Seplat Energy, Network E&P Nigeria, All Grace Energy and Aradel Energy. In a statement signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society organisation maintain that the call follows the decision of the Senate Public Accounts Committee to issue a 48-hour ultimatum to the companies to appear before the committee after they failed to attend an investigative hearing on audit queries contained in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 reports of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). According to Suraju, the Senate’s investigation underscores the importance of effective oversight and transparent management of Nigeria’s natural resources, particularly in the extractive sector, where unresolved financial obligations can have significant implications for public revenue. “These companies should be given the opportunity to respond fully to the audit queries and present relevant documentation, while insisting that any established financial obligations to government must be recovered and accounted for transparently.” Suraju noted. “Public resources belong to Nigerians, and every company operating in the extractive sector has a responsibility to comply with the laws governing the payment of royalties, taxes and other statutory obligations. Where audit queries raise questions about payments due to government, these issues must be investigated openly and resolved based on verifiable evidence,” He added. Similarly, HEDA also urged the Senate Public Accounts Committee to conduct the investigation transparently and publish its findings and recommendations, including details of any outstanding liabilities established against the affected companies. The group noted that the appearance of Dubri Oil Company before the committee and its submission of documents disputing the reported $3.25 million royalty and gas-flare debt demonstrates the importance of allowing all parties to present evidence and reconcile disputed figures before conclusions are reached. HEDA therefore called on the Senate, NEITI, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and other relevant agencies to ensure that the investigation leads to concrete outcomes rather than becoming another unresolved audit matter. The organisation further urged the affected companies to cooperate fully with the Senate investigation and provide all information required to clarify the audit queries. “Nigerians deserve to know whether revenues arising from the country’s oil and gas resources have been properly assessed, collected and accounted for, and legislative oversight must ultimately translate into the protection of public revenue and stronger accountability in the extractive sector.” Suraju concluded.

August 28, 2026August 28, 2026 By heda 0

HEDA News

HEDA Urges NUPRC to Halt TotalEnergies’ Proposed Sale to Vaaris Over Environmental Liabilities

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to provide full public disclosure on how it intends to address outstanding environmental and decommissioning liabilities before approving TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Ltd’s proposed sale of its 10 percent non-operated stake in oil licences operated by the Renaissance Africa Energy Joint Venture. In a letter signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, and addressed to the Commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan, the civil society organisation urged NUPRC to carefully examine the environmental and financial implications of the proposed transaction before granting any final approval. According to Suraju, the request was necessary given the longstanding and extensive environmental pollution associated with the assets formerly operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Joint Venture and the need to ensure that responsibility for cleaning up the damage is not transferred to an entity without demonstrated capacity to meet the obligations. “TotalEnergies SE, the French parent company of TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Ltd, was served on July 1, 2026, with a writ of summons to appear before the President of the Paris Judicial Court in proceedings seeking documents relating to the proposed sale to Vaaris Resources JV CO limited, particularly documents concerning the allocation and transfer of environmental liabilities, including responsibility for pollution.” the group noted. The case is expected to be heard on September 29, 2026, with a judgement anticipated before the end of 2026. HEDA further urged NUPRC to also review the court documents and consider whether the proceedings have implications for the proposed transaction before making a final regulatory decision. The organisation also raised concerns over the scale of potential decommissioning liabilities associated with the former SPDC JV assets. It cited Shell documents referenced in court proceedings in the United Kingdom, which indicated that the company was informed in 2014 that decommissioning of existing SPDC assets could take several decades and cost an estimated US$10.9 billion. According to HEDA, when adjusted to current dollar values, the estimate would be approximately US$14 billion. Based on the respective interests in the former SPDC JV, the organisation estimates that TotalEnergies’ share of the decommissioning obligation could be about US$1.4 billion, excluding additional costs relating to environmental clean-up, remediation and compensation. HEDA expressed concern that the actual liabilities could therefore be significantly higher than the estimated decommissioning costs. The organisation further questioned whether Vaaris Resources JV CO Limited, the proposed acquiring entity, has demonstrated sufficient financial capacity to meet such substantial decommissioning, environmental remediation and compensation obligations. HEDA noted that Vaaris was incorporated on December 22, 2025, shortly before entering into the sale and purchase agreement with TotalEnergies, and has yet to publicly demonstrate through financial accounts or an operational profile that it possesses the capacity to assume the potentially significant liabilities associated with the assets. “NUPRC must ensure that the proposed transaction does not become a mechanism for transferring enormous environmental liabilities to an entity whose financial capacity to meet those obligations has not been demonstrated,” Suraju said. HEDA therefore called on NUPRC to publicly clarify how environmental, remediation, compensation and decommissioning liabilities will be allocated under the proposed transaction and what safeguards are in place to ensure that affected communities and the Nigerian environment are not left to bear the consequences. The organisation also urged the Commission to ensure that TotalEnergies’ existing obligations are not extinguished or weakened by the proposed sale and that any approval is subject to clear, enforceable and adequately funded environmental liability arrangements.

August 24, 2026August 24, 2026 By heda 0

HEDA News

HEDA Condemns Tinubu’s Intervention in EFCC’s Osun Account Investigation

Calls for Respect for EFCC’s Independence, Judicial Process The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation involving suspicious transactions in the accounts of the Osun State Government. In a press statement signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the anti-corruption civil society organisation said the President’s directive to the EFCC to lift the restriction on the accounts raises serious concerns about the operational independence of Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions and undermines the principle that enforcement decisions should be subject to due process and judicial review. The group noted that the anti-graft commission has a statutory responsibility under Section 6 of the EFCC Act 2024 to prevent, investigate and prosecute economic and financial crimes. It said where credible intelligence or evidence suggests that public funds are at risk of diversion or misuse, the Commission should be allowed to take lawful preventive measures while investigations are ongoing. “Public money does not belong to any governor, political party or administration. It belongs to the people,” Suraju said, stressing that where an EFCC enforcement action is considered excessive or unlawful, the appropriate avenue for redress is the court, rather than presidential intervention. The civil society organisation said the restriction of accounts is intended to prevent the movement of potentially compromised funds while investigations are conducted, noting that “you cannot investigate a moving target.” HEDA cited previous EFCC similar interventions, including the restriction of Edo State Government accounts during the last governorship election following petitions and intelligence relating to alleged contract inflation and diversion of federal allocations. It said the intervention reportedly helped preserve about N12 billion pending a forensic audit. It also recalled the EFCC’s 2021 court-backed restriction of a Kogi State salary bailout account containing more than N20 billion, stressing that such measures are intended to protect public resources and not to shut down government. According to HEDA, the law empowers the EFCC to take preventive action where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that public funds may be moved or misappropriated. It cited Section 7(6) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and Section 34 of the EFCC Establishment Act as part of the legal framework supporting such action. The organisation warned that presidential intervention in a specific ongoing enforcement action could create the perception that anti-corruption investigations are subject to political control, particularly when the affected state is governed by an opposition party and an election is approaching. HEDA urged all political actors to refrain from turning anti-corruption institutions into instruments of electoral competition, stressing that the political affiliation of a government should not determine whether public resources are protected. “Where public money is threatened, the law should protect it. Where an anti-corruption agency exceeds its authority, the courts should correct it. But when political authorities determine which specific enforcement actions anti-corruption agencies pursue or reverse, the credibility and independence of the entire anti-corruption system are undermined,” HEDA said. The organisation called on the EFCC to continue any legitimate investigation into the Osun State accounts and prosecute anyone found culpable of diverting or misusing public funds, irrespective of political affiliation. HEDA said the controversy goes beyond Osun State, arguing that Nigeria needs anti-corruption institutions capable of protecting public resources without fear, favour or political interference. “The President should strengthen anti-corruption institutions, not determine the outcome of individual enforcement actions. There is never a wrong time to do the right thing,” Suraju said.

August 10, 2026August 10, 2026 By heda 0

HEDA News

Osun 2026: HEDA Calls for Credible Poll, Urges INEC, Security Agencies to Uphold Democratic Integrity

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police Force, other security agencies, political parties, and citizens to uphold democratic principles by ensuring that the Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for 15 August 2026 is peaceful, free, fair, credible, and transparent. In a statement signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the organisation described the election as another important opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that its credibility will not only determine the legitimacy of the eventual winner but also reinforce public confidence in democratic institutions ahead of 2027 general elections. According to Suraju, “Every institution involved must discharge its responsibilities with integrity, impartiality, and accountability. The credibility of the election will depend not only on the conduct of INEC but also on the professionalism of security agencies, the maturity of political actors, and the vigilance of citizens.” HEDA urged INEC to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, neutrality, and transparency by ensuring the timely deployment of election materials and personnel, the effective use of electoral technology, prompt resolution of operational challenges, and transparent collation and declaration of results in accordance with the Electoral Act and the Constitution. The group also called on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to provide adequate security before, during, and after the election while remaining politically neutral. Security personnel, it said, must protect voters, election officials, observers, journalists, and electoral materials without intimidation, harassment, or any action capable of undermining public confidence in the process. The organisation further reminded political parties and their candidates to conduct issue-based campaigns and refrain from vote-buying, hate speech, voter intimidation, misinformation, and all forms of electoral violence. “We are also calling on media, election observers, and civil society organisations to sustain their oversight role by promoting transparency, documenting the electoral process, combating misinformation, and ensuring that citizens have access to accurate information. Journalists covering the election must be allowed to carry out their constitutional responsibilities freely and safely.” Suraju added. HEDA encouraged the people of Osun State to participate peacefully in the election, reject inducements and violence, and exercise their constitutional right to vote without fear. Reaffirming that credible elections are fundamental to democratic governance, accountability, and sustainable development, the organisation pledged to monitor the electoral process and urged all stakeholders to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of the election.

August 3, 2026August 3, 2026 By heda

Shell Nigeria Pollution Report

Nigeria: Shell documents expose basket pipeline, missing wells and US$10.9bn decommissioning costs as pollution scandal grows

Nigeria: Shell documents expose ‘basket’ pipeline, ‘missing’ wells and US$10.9bn decommissioning costs as pollution scandal grows Photo by Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Shell must answer for decades of pollution in the Niger Delta after internal company documents revealed broken rules, failing infrastructure and unresolved clean-up costs that risk leaving affected communities to pay the price, a coalition of human rights and environmental organisations, including Amnesty International, said today in a new report. The report, Nigeria: Lifting the Lid, analyses internal Shell emails, audits, presentations and confidential reviews disclosed in UK legal proceedings, revealing a wider human rights scandal than previously reported. While Shell presented its operations as meeting global standards, the documents point to concerns raised by the Nigerian army over alleged complicity in oil theft, suspected staff and contractor collusion, exemptions from safety standards, chronic neglect of known pipeline integrity risks, missing well data, weak leak detection and flawed spill monitoring. Shell knew the risks from ageing and leaking infrastructure, including an old pipeline internally described as “a basket” [case], yet kept oil flowing. It later decided to divest its onshore business rather than face the enormous cost of clean-up and decommissioning, including an internal US$10.9 billion decommissioning estimate. A separate internal presentation stated that 375km² of mangrove forest had been harmed by pollution. Amnesty International wrote to Shell on 3 July 2026 to share its findings related to the disclosed documents. In response to Amnesty’s report, Shell wrote that: “The characterisation and portrayal of Shell in your letter is not one we recognise. Shell is committed to honesty, integrity and respect for people, and to conducting business in an ethical and transparent manner.” Shell says that the findings do not reflect the “challenging operating environment in the Niger Delta at the time”. Their full response is included in the report. “Shell has long blamed oil theft and sabotage for pollution in the Niger Delta. But these documents cut through years of denial and raise grave questions about what Shell knew, what it allowed to continue, and whether it then sought to walk away from the costs of its toxic legacy,” said Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria. “The scandal was not simply illegal ‘bunkering’ or oil theft. The real scandal is Shell’s pursuit of profit at the expense of people’s rights. Shell was willing to accept further environmental damage in Nigeria that would not have been tolerated elsewhere, and years of public denial are now challenged by its own documents.” The real scandal is Shell’s pursuit of profit at the expense of people’s rights. Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria The report is published by Amnesty International together with The Corner House, Hawkmoth, HEDA Resource Centre, Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, Miideekor Environmental Development Initiative (MEDI), Recommon and Social Action. For affected communities, the findings confirm what many have said for decades: oil pollution has damaged water, farmland, fisheries, health and livelihoods, while companies continued to profit and deny responsibility. “Shell cannot be allowed to take the oil, take the profits and leave the pollution behind. Communities in the Niger Delta deserve truth, justice, clean-up and full remedy,” said Olanrewaju Suraju, Chairman of the HEDA Resource Centre, a Nigerian governance and environmental justice NGO. Concerns over role in oil theft, broken rules and failing infrastructure The documents show that even while Shell blamed criminal gangs for oil theft, senior staff allowed illegal taps to remain on pipelines because removing them would “take considerable system downtime”, meaning the temporary suspension of profitable crude oil flows. One senior Shell manager wrote in 2013 that this had led the Nigerian security force responsible for pipeline security to accuse Shell of being “complicit” in oil theft “because we are not removing the bunkering points.” A Shell presentation that year, referring to the effects of the illegal tapping, asked: “are we comfortable to continue producing, KNOWING that further environmental damage WILL occur?” The report also reveals that Shell exempted its Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) from key elements of its global health and safety standards so oil could continue flowing through tampered pipelines, even when not deemed safe under Shell’s own safety rules. This was an approach one senior Shell executive appeared to acknowledge would not be tolerated elsewhere. Internal documents additionally show Shell executives suspected staff and contractors may have been involved in oil theft, with one email warning: “we have to work on the assumption that the bunkerers get good access to SPDC planning data.” Internal audits further exposed serious weaknesses in Shell’s pipeline management, including a major maintenance backlog, weak oversight systems, and poor records on pipeline clamps that Shell had allowed to become permanent repairs on leaking pipelines. More than 1,600 clamps were registered, including older clamps whose locations were unknown. A 2012 technical review also found that SPDC flowlines were supposed to be replaced every 15 years, but this was “not being followed” and only “breakdown maintenance” was being applied. Shell cannot be allowed to take the oil, take the profits and leave the pollution behind. Olanrewaju Suraju, Chairman of the HEDA Resource Centre ‘Missing’ oil wells, weak monitoring and flawed spill monitoring An internal report in 2014 to Shell’s then CEO said there were “hundreds” of SPDC onshore wells that were either missing from its electronic well-tracking system or whose condition could not be verified. Shell later launched a “well hunt campaign”, which identified 750 overdue maintenance tasks that contributed to an “unsatisfactory” audit rating. A 2013 report also found that SPDC’s pipelines had no real-time monitoring system, despite the fact that quickly detecting spills and limiting contamination is key to reducing pollution. Without such monitoring, anything short of a major rupture could go unnoticed. “A fossil fuel giant that could not verify the location and integrity of hundreds of wells and pipeline clamps, and lacked effective leak detection, cannot credibly claim it had pollution under control. Shell must stop deflecting blame,” said Dr Emem Okon from Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, a Nigeria-based group promoting women’s

July 29, 2026July 29, 2026 By heda

HEDA News

HEDA Petitions ICPC Over Alleged Continued Salary Payment to Former Minister Geoffrey Nnaji, Demands Expanded Investigation and Recovery of Funds

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has submitted a supplementary petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), urging the Commission to expand its ongoing investigation into former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, to include alleged salary fraud, unlawful enrichment, payroll manipulation, and possible conspiracy involving public officials. The petition, signed by HEDA Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju addressed to the commission, follows an earlier petition dated 17 October 2025 concerning allegations of certificate forgery, perjury, and presentation of false academic credentials by Mr. Nnaji. HEDA stated that new information obtained from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) indicates that Mr. Nnaji may have continued to receive government salary payments months after his removal from office. According to the petition submitted to the ICPC, payroll records obtained from IPPIS for June 2026 allegedly showed that Mr. Nnaji remained listed under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) as “Hon. Minister” and received a net payment of ₦170,282.61 for the month. The document referenced in the petition also reportedly indicated cumulative earnings of ₦5,845,601.13 recorded on the system. The group expressed concern that if verified, the continued payment of public funds to an individual no longer occupying the office raises serious questions about weaknesses in government payroll management systems and possible breaches of public service accountability standards. “We are concerned that a public official who has left office could allegedly remain active on the government payroll system for several months. Beyond the individual involved, this raises questions about the accountability of officials responsible for maintaining and supervising government payroll records,” He added. In its supplementary petition, Suraju urged the ICPC to expand the scope of its investigation and consider additional offences relating to alleged salary fraud, unlawful enrichment, payroll manipulation, and possible collaboration with officials responsible for maintaining payroll records. The anti-corruption organisation also requested that the Commission investigate the circumstances surrounding the continued presence of Mr. Nnaji’s profile on the IPPIS platform after leaving office; identify and investigate officials responsible for approving or maintaining the alleged payments; take appropriate steps to prevent further disbursement of public funds pending the outcome of investigations; and recover any public funds found to have been improperly paid. HEDA reiterated its commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in public service, stressing that public resources must be protected from abuse through effective oversight mechanisms. The organisation called on relevant anti-corruption agencies to ensure a thorough, independent, and transparent investigation into the allegations contained in the petition and take appropriate legal action where wrongdoing is established.

July 27, 2026July 27, 2026 By heda

HEDA News

HEDA hails Court’s Final Forfeiture of Aisha Achimugu’s Assets, Urges Sustained Anti-Corruption Efforts

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has welcomed the Federal High Court’s order granting the final forfeiture of assets linked to businesswoman Aisha Achimugu to the Federal Government, describing the judgment as a significant boost to Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign. Justice Jude Onwugbuzie of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday ordered the forfeiture of jewelry valued at N4.65 billion, 11 exotic vehicles worth N4.29 billion and $50,000 in cash following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). HEDA in a statement signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the anticorruption group commended the anti-graft agency for pursuing the case to its logical conclusion and lauded the judiciary for upholding the rule of law. According to Suraju, the judgment demonstrates that anti-corruption institutions can achieve meaningful outcomes, whether with private or public persons, when investigations and prosecutions are conducted professionally and without undue interference. He said the forfeiture should serve as a reminder that no individual, regardless of status or political connections, should be above the law. “The court’s decision is capable of reinforcing public confidence in the country’s anti-corruption framework. Asset recovery must remain a key component of efforts to combat corruption and ensure accountability in the management of public resources,” Suraju said. The organisation urged the EFCC and other relevant agencies to sustain the momentum by ensuring that all recovered assets are transparently managed and deployed for projects that directly benefit Nigerians. Suraju also called for consistent enforcement of anti-corruption laws, stressing that investigations and prosecutions should remain evidence-based and free from political considerations. HEDA further urged public officials and politically exposed persons to uphold the highest standards of transparency, accountability and integrity in public service. The organisation maintained that strengthening institutions, ensuring judicial independence and promoting transparency in asset recovery remain critical to sustaining Nigeria’s fight against corruption. The judgment comes months after the same court ordered the final forfeiture of $13 million linked to Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited, a company associated with Achimugu.

July 20, 2026July 20, 2026 By heda

HEDA News

HEDA Demands Immediate Enforcement of Supreme Court Jail Sentence Against Convicted Former Army Officer Bello Magaji

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has formally petitioned the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), demanding the immediate enforcement of the five-year prison sentence affirmed by the Supreme Court against convicted former Army officer, Major Bello Magaji over the offence of sodomy. In a petition signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju and addressed to the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, the civil society organization expressed grave concern over reports suggesting that the convict may have evaded serving the custodial sentence imposed by the nation’s highest court, describing the situation as a serious threat to the rule of law and the integrity of Nigeria’s justice system. According to Suraju, the administration of justice cannot be considered complete when a person validly convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction escapes the consequences of the crime. “Justice does not end with conviction. The enforcement of judicial decisions is fundamental to maintaining public confidence in the legal system. Where a Supreme Court judgment remains unexecuted, it sends a dangerous message that powerful individuals can evade accountability,” Suraju stated. HEDA recalled that Major Bello Magaji was arraigned before a General Court Martial on February 6, 1997, for the offence of sodomy contrary to Section 81(1)(a) of the Armed Forces Decree No. 105 of 1993. Following his conviction, he was initially sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, which was later reduced to five years by the Confirming Authority. The convict unsuccessfully challenged the judgment before the Court of Appeal before proceeding to the Supreme Court in Appeal No. S.C. 204/2004 (Major Bello Magaji v. The Nigerian Army). On March 7, 2008, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed his appeal and affirmed the five-year prison sentence. In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Niki Tobi, the apex court upheld the concurrent findings of the lower courts and affirmed the conviction. HEDA noted that credible public disclosures have raised serious questions as to whether the convicted former officer ever served the prison term affirmed by the Supreme Court. Consequently, the organisation called on the Nigerian Correctional Service to urgently verify its custodial records to determine whether Major Bello Magaji was ever admitted into any correctional facility to serve the sentence. Where no such record exists, HEDA urged the Service to immediately collaborate with relevant law enforcement agencies to apprehend the convict and ensure the full execution of the Supreme Court judgment. The anti-corruption organisation also demanded a comprehensive internal investigation into any administrative or institutional failures that may have enabled the alleged non-enforcement of the custodial sentence. “The rule of law cannot be selective. Every valid judgment of the Court must be respected and enforced irrespective of the status or influence of the convicted person. Failure to execute such judgments undermines public trust in the justice system and weakens the nation’s commitment to accountability,” Suraju added. HEDA, however, has forwarded relevant portions of the Supreme Court judgment to the Nigerian Correctional Service to facilitate immediate action and copied the Honourable Minister of Interior, urging the Ministry to ensure full compliance with the judgment. The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to promoting accountability, transparency, and respect for the rule of law, stressing that no individual should be above the law or permitted to escape the consequences of a lawful conviction.

July 13, 2026July 13, 2026 By heda

HEDA News

Total’s divestment from Nigeria: Four organizations demand transparency

Following Total’s announcement that it is selling part of its oil assets in the Niger Delta, Friends of the Earth France, Hawkmoth, HEDA Resource Centre and Social Action, supported by Corner House and ReCommon, are taking legal action against the parent company of the group. The organizations are seeking to obtain documents that will shed light on the terms of the proposed transaction, as the provisions of the agreement are currently unclear. Whilst the Niger Delta is known to have been ravaged by oil exploitation, no information has been made public regarding the guarantees provided concerning the management of environmental damage and compensation for those affected. The documents, requested under pre-trial summary proceedings, would enable the organizations to verify whether Total has complied with its Duty of Vigilance under French law. The Niger Delta ravaged by decades of oil extraction The Niger Delta is now considered one of the “most polluted places on Earth”[1]. Water is unfit for consumption; fisheries have been destroyed; and land has been rendered uncultivable. The volume of hydrocarbons spilled in the area by all oil companies between 1958 and 2010 is estimated at approximately “9 to 13 million barrels”. This is equivalent to approximately 35 to 50 times the volume of oil spilled during the Exxon Valdez tanker disaster in Alaska. This case is about people, not just oil assets. It is about children growing up with poisoned water, families breathing polluted air, and communities losing their health and livelihoods while international oil companies walk away with decades of profits. These communities must not be treated as corporate sacrifice zones. France’s Duty of Vigilance Law requires Total to demonstrate that its divestment does not further infringe the human rights of people in its oil and gas extraction sites by ensuring adequate remediation. Dr. Isaac ‘Asume’ Osuoka, Director, Social Action A gradual withdrawal that risks jeopardizing clean-up efforts The oil companies Total, Shell and ENI – which have historically operated in the region – are withdrawing one after the other, leaving the affected communities in uncertainty about their future. In March 2025, Shell sold its subsidiary, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), to Renaissance Africa Energy. SPDC was the operator of the onshore oil and gas assets owned by the SPDC joint venture (now renamed “JV Renaissance”), which has contributed significantly to the massive oil pollution in the Niger Delta over the last thirty years. The joint venture, in which Total has a 10 per cent share is now operated by Renaissance African Energy. In January 2026, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria signed an agreement to sell its stake in the Renaissance JV to a Nigerian consortium, Vaaris. In May 2026, ENI also announced the sale of its stake. This withdrawal by the major European oil companies, carried out with a complete lack of transparency, is a cause of serious concern for those most directly affected, as well as for local and international organizations: no information has been provided regarding the existence of guarantees concerning the remediation of polluted areas and compensation for those affected. The clean-up of the region could be jeopardized as a result. ”Total served on the international board of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI). So it can’t say it doesn’t understand the public interest, and its own obligation to be transparent about such transactions. We asked Patrick Pouyanné about the deal at this year’s AGM, but all we got back were smoke and mirror claims – just what has Total got to hide?” Simon Taylor, co-founder of Hawkmoth “The UN working groups and Mandate holders have categorized the 2024-2025 divestment shenanigans as experiments in divestment without clean-up. The lack of financial capacity to take over assets of SPDC without loan from Shell by Renaissance and inability of Chappal to consummate the take of Total share of SPDC after several extensions of deadlines goes to lack of capacity for liabilities take over by the new buyers”. Olanrewaju Suraju, Chair of HEDA Resource Centre Fossil fuel companies must ensure responsible divestment from their operations Whilst fossil fuel companies reap considerable profits from their activities, they all too often refuse to take responsibility for the legacy of pollution they leave behind. After they have left, local communities remain exposed to long-term health risks and the loss of their livelihoods, with no prospect of redress. Today, Friends of the Earth France, Hawkmoth, HEDA Resource Centre and Social Action are taking Total to court in France to seek clarification on the terms of its intended divestment from the Renaissance JV. Under the French Duty of Vigilance Law, Total is required to take the necessary measures to identify risks and prevent serious breaches of human rights and environmental damage resulting from Renaissance JV’s operation and the proposed divestment of Total’s share. The documents requested would enable us to verify whether the company has in fact complied with this obligation. Oil companies are organizing their divestment with a complete lack of transparency. Following Shell’s withdrawal in 2025, Total’s departure is heightening uncertainty amongst the affected communities: who will fund the clean-up once the major European oil companies have left, taking years of profits with them? CAMILLE GRANDPERRINlitigation officer at Friends of theEarth France

July 1, 2026July 1, 2026 By heda