FG Archives - HEDA Resource Centre

UK Acquittal Should Not Halt Diezani’s Corruption Case in Nigeria – HEDA tells FG

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has said the acquittal of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, by a United Kingdom court should not be interpreted as an end to corruption investigations, prosecutions and asset-recovery proceedings relating to her in Nigeria. In a statement signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society organisation said the June 17 verdict of the Southwark Crown Court Jury must be respected as a judicial decision concerning the specific bribery charges brought before the UK court, but does not automatically determine the outcome of separate proceedings and allegations being pursued under Nigerian law. HEDA said Federal Government of Nigeria must continue to pursue all legitimate aspects of the cases based on credible evidence, due process and the rule of law. HEDA said its position was informed by its longstanding monitoring of the Diezani case, which it has documented in its Compendium of 100 High-Profile Corruption Cases. The organisation’s 2020 edition highlighted the difficulties surrounding efforts to bring Alison-Madueke before a Nigerian court, including an order directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to produce her for trial. Its subsequent publications also tracked forfeiture proceedings involving properties and other assets linked to the former minister, including her challenges to the EFCC’s efforts to dispose of forfeited assets. “The UK judgment should be respected for what it is: a decision on the specific criminal charges for crimes committed under the UK laws that were before the court. It should neither be misrepresented as proof of guilt nor as a blanket determination of every allegation, investigation or asset-recovery proceeding connected to the former minister,” Suraju said. The organisation noted that criminal prosecution and asset recovery are related but distinct processes, stressing that the failure of a criminal prosecution does not necessarily determine the status of assets where separate legal proceedings apply. HEDA urged the EFCC and other relevant Nigerian institutions to independently assess the evidence available to them and proceed with viable cases, while ensuring that any further prosecution complies with constitutional safeguards, including the right to a fair hearing and protection against double jeopardy. HEDA also stressed that Nigeria’s responsibility to investigate corruption and recover public assets cannot be outsourced to foreign jurisdictions. “Nigeria must not wait for foreign courts to determine whether Nigerians accused of corruption should face justice. Our institutions must sustain and improve the investigative capacity, evidence-gathering systems and international cooperation mechanisms required to pursue complex corruption cases, wherever the proceeds may have been moved,” the organisation said. The organisation said the Diezani case has a significant international asset-recovery dimension, with previous proceedings involving properties and other assets linked to the former minister in jurisdictions including the United States and the United Kingdom. It urged Nigerian authorities to provide greater clarity on the status of the various corruption cases and asset-recovery proceedings involving Alison-Madueke, warning that prolonged investigations and court processes without adequate public communication could weaken confidence in anti-corruption institutions. The group also called for greater transparency in the management of assets recovered or forfeited in corruption cases, saying Nigerians should know what has been recovered, where such assets are located, how they are being managed and how recovered public resources are ultimately deployed. It urged the media and civil society organisations to sustain scrutiny of the Nigerian authorities’ handling of the case, including criminal proceedings, asset recovery and the management of recovered assets. “The ultimate test is not whether justice can be obtained in London or any other foreign jurisdiction. The test is whether Nigeria has institutions capable of investigating credible allegations, prosecuting cases based on evidence, recovering the proceeds of corruption and ensuring that those resources are returned transparently to the Nigerian people,” Suraju said.

September 13, 2026September 13, 2026 By heda 0

HEDA News

HEDA Unveils 15 Shortlisted Nominees for GFIIA 2025, Opens Public Voting

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has announced the kickoff of public voting for the 8th edition of the prestigious Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards (GFIIA) 2025. Held annually, the GFIIA Awards provide the public an opportunity to nominate individuals who exemplify integrity and impact in society. Following a rigorous screening process and approval by the Awards Board, 15 outstanding nominees have been shortlisted across various award categories for selection. The one-month public voting phase, which began on September 15, 2025, and runs through October 15, 2025, can is accessible through the Awards website: gfa.hedang.org HEDA’s Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, emphasized the purpose of the GFIIA Awards which is to inspire positive change in societal attitudes toward integrity, community service, and courage while celebrating those who demonstrate these unwavering attributes even in the face of challenges. “The GFIIA Awards process is comprehensive and inclusive, involving public participation from nominations to final voting. The nominees have gone through a thorough multi-stage screening by a panel of experts, with the final list approved by the Awards Board, made up of distinguished personalities,” Suraju stated. The GFIIA Awards Board is chaired by Prof. Itse Sagay SAN, co-chaired by Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, and includes notable figures like Prof. Ayo Atsenua, Prof. Nsongurua Udombana, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, Dr. Abiola Akiode-Afolabi, Comrade Achike Chude, and Comrade Femi Aborisade. HEDA received 1,211 nominations during the open call. After careful review and analysis, the following nominees have been shortlisted across four award categories: Outstanding Impact Award: Barr. Olumide Kayode-Omosebi, Mr. Opeoluwa Taiwo, Dr. Lola Odeyale Ayo-Fashida, Dr. (Mrs) Adeola Akinwunmi-Ekine, Offiong Ikpeme, Farmer Samson Ogbole, Dinatu Dama Maji. The Whistle-Blower Award Nominees are Pastor Nicholas Evaristus and Builder Kunle Awobodu. Outstanding Integrity Award nominees includes Mohammed AbdulRahman, Auwalu Salisu, Hajiya Aishat Yan Guru, Mary Ngozi Kekwaaru, and Dayyabu Bala Gezawa. Mrs. Yetunde Abimbola-Alebiosu is the sole nominee who successfully passed the screening process for the Nigerian-In-Diaspora Award. HEDA Resource Centre encourages the public to participate actively in this voting process and contribute toward honouring those who uphold the values of impact and integrity championed by the late Gani Fawehinmi. Voting ends on October 15, 2025. For more details on the GFIIA 2025 and to cast your vote, visit gfa.hedang.org

September 30, 2025September 30, 2025 By heda

HEDA News

HEDA Demands Transparency and Accountability in FG’s N330bn Cash Transfer Scheme

HEDA Requests Finance Minister Publish List of Beneficiaries and Provide Breakdown of Disbursement. The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on the Federal Government to provide full transparency and accountability over its recent claim of disbursing N330 billion to poor Nigerians through the National Social Safety-net Coordinating Office. The call comes in reaction to the disclosure by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who announced that the federal government had commenced cash transfers funded from an $800 million World Bank facility to help Nigerians cope with economic hardship. In a statement signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, while acknowledging the need for social protection in the wake of biting inflation and the removal of fuel subsidy, the civil society organisation noted that the government’s pronouncement lacks the clarity and openness expected in the management of public resources. According to Suraju, the Federal Government’s claim of paying out N330 billion to poor Nigerians raises more questions than answers. He stressed that, “Nigerians deserve to know the true identities of the beneficiaries, the selection process adopted by the government, and a transparent breakdown of the amounts paid. Public funds, whether sourced locally or from international partners loans like the World Bank, must be utilized with ultimate openness.” HEDA stressed that without a published list of beneficiaries and verifiable records, such large-scale cash disbursements risk becoming another avenue for corruption, political patronage, and manipulation. The country is yet to recover from the rude of misappropriation of similar loan and feeding scheme by former ministers Sadiya Umar under the government of late President Buhari and Betta Edu under the current government. “We are demanding that the Honourable Minister of Finance provides a detailed account of the beneficiaries, their locations, and the verifiable disbursement data. Nigerians must be convinced that this scheme truly reaches the poor and vulnerable, not ghost names or politically selected individuals. Accountability and transparency are non-negotiable.” Mr. Suraju added The group further urged that subsequent budgetary provisions for social protection programmes should be subjected to open scrutiny by civil society organisations, media, and the public, in line with global best practices. HEDA reiterated its commitment to tracking and monitoring government spending on social protection to ensure that such interventions genuinely address the plight of the poorest Nigerians rather than serve as a political tool or ghost scheme for corruption and abuse of public trust.

September 30, 2025September 30, 2025 By heda

HEDA News

HEDA Sues Shell, FG, Others Over Oil Licence Transfer

The Incorporated Trustees of HEDA Resource Centre has initiated legal proceedings against Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Renaissance African Energy Company Limited, and several key government agencies over the transfer of an oil exploration licence. The suit marked FHC/L/CS/651/2025, filed by Kunle Adegoke, SAN, on behalf of the plaintiff at the Federal High Court in Lagos, raises critical concerns regarding compliance with Nigeria’s legal and regulatory frameworks governing the petroleum industry. The lawsuit names seven defendants include the Attorney General and Minister for Justice of the Federation, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCLtd), Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. HEDA Resource Centre contends that the transfer and divestment of Shell’s oil exploration licence to Renaissance African Energy Company Limited may have contravened provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, and related regulations. Key issues raised by HEDA include concerns over the legality, transparency, and regulatory compliance of the transaction. The plaintiff asserts that the process failed to meet statutory provisions, including the requirement to conduct and disclose an Environmental Evaluation Study under the Upstream Petroleum Environmental Regulation, 2022. HEDA argues that allowing the transaction to proceed without adhering to these legal requirements could set a dangerous precedent and undermine national and public interest, particularly regarding environmental sustainability and the welfare of communities in the Niger Delta. HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, stressed the urgency of transparency and compliance in the oil licence transfer, stating, “This transaction threatens public interest and the environment if legal requirements, like the Environmental Evaluation Study, are ignored. The welfare of Niger Delta communities and sustainable management of petroleum resources must be prioritized to avoid setting a harmful precedent.” The legal application seeks several declaratory and injunctive reliefs, including an order restraining all parties from proceeding with, approving, or enforcing the transfer until full compliance with Nigeria’s legal framework is ensured. HEDA emphasizes that strict adherence to regulatory processes is crucial for transparency, accountability, and the sustainable management of the country’s petroleum resources. The Federal High Court is expected to hear the case in the coming weeks, with stakeholders in the petroleum industry and environmental advocacy groups closely monitoring its implications. This suit highlights the ongoing scrutiny of oil and gas transactions in Nigeria and reinforces the call for regulatory compliance and environmental stewardship in the sector.

April 14, 2025 By Nurudeen Salako