The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), seeking details of the out-of-court settlement that led to the withdrawal of proceedings against Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) over alleged $2.3 billion tax evasion. In the FOI request addressed to the ICPC Chairman, the civil society organisation called for the disclosure of the settlement agreement, details of financial recoveries made by the Federal Government and any administrative, tax or legal clearance granted to the company and its affiliated entities following the investigation. The request follows public disclosures and court records indicating that the ICPC, through its Head of High-Profile Prosecution, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, Esq., withdrew its suit against SEEPCO on March 23, 2026, before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, citing an out-of-court settlement reached with the company. The case originated from an ex-parte application filed by the ICPC on June 24, 2025, in which the Commission alleged that SEEPCO operated a scheme to evade taxes estimated at approximately $2.3 billion between 2012 and 2021. According to the allegations, the company under-declared its daily crude oil production to evade taxes on production income and allegedly used multiple corporate entities and bank accounts across commercial banks to divert exploration profits and launder funds belonging to the Federal Government outside Nigeria. Following the application, the Federal High Court reportedly granted an order freezing SEEPCO’s bank accounts for 120 days to facilitate investigations. Seeking clarity on the outcome of the proceedings, HEDA requested a certified copy of the complete settlement agreement between the ICPC and SEEPCO, including the terms that informed the withdrawal of the suit. The organisation also requested details of any tax back-payments, penalties, restitution or other financial recoveries agreed upon and collected by the Federal Government in connection with the alleged $2.3 billion liability. Additionally, HEDA asked the Commission to disclose whether any administrative, tax or legal clearance was issued to SEEPCO and its connected entities following the investigation. HEDA said the request was made pursuant to Sections 1, 2 and 4 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, which guarantee the right of individuals and organisations to access information held by public institutions. The organisation emphasised the public interest in understanding how the allegations were resolved, particularly given the potential implications for public revenue, transparency and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s natural resources. It urged the ICPC to respond within the seven-day statutory period prescribed by the FOI Act. HEDA also requested that, where access to any part of the information is denied, the Commission provide written reasons identifying the specific legal provisions relied upon, in accordance with Section 7 of the Act.