Four lawyers have approached the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking an order compelling Mumuni Dagazau, Executive Vice President (Downstream) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, to step aside from office pending the conclusion of a House of Representatives investigation into allegations of corruption, money laundering and abuse of office.
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The applicants — Ejike Onukaogu, Gloria Ezeji, Daniel Edeachi and Akor Dominic Friday — are also asking the court to direct President Bola Tinubu, in his capacity as Chief Executive of the Federation, to suspend Dagazau in what they described as the national interest pending the determination of their application.
The reliefs are contained in a motion on notice marked FCT/HC/M/15759/2026.
Dagazau is listed as the first defendant in the proceedings, while President Tinubu is named as the second defendant.
The motion, filed on behalf of the applicants by their counsel, Samuel Momoh, is supported by a 27-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Ezeji, a legal practitioner and Nigerian citizen.
The applicants described themselves as promoters of the Public Officers Anti-Corruption Watch and as legal practitioners, taxpayers and citizens committed to promoting accountability, transparency and good governance in public service.
According to the affidavit, allegations of corruption, money laundering and abuse of office have been raised against Dagazau in relation to the discharge of his official duties, prompting an investigation by the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream).
The allegations have not been established by any court, and Dagazau remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until otherwise determined through due process.
The applicants, however, argued that allowing him to remain in office while the legislative investigation continues could undermine the integrity of the probe.
They contended that, by virtue of his position, Dagazau has access to documents, records and other materials that could potentially form part of the investigation.
Speaking to journalists at the court premises, Onukaogu, on behalf of the applicants, argued that the sensitivity of the allegations required Dagazau to temporarily step aside to enable the House committee conduct its investigation without interference or the appearance of interference.
The lawyers also urged President Tinubu to suspend the NNPCL executive pending the outcome of the investigation.
According to them, the application is founded partly on principles of natural justice, particularly the rule that a person should not be a judge in his own cause.
They maintained that temporary removal from office would safeguard the integrity of the investigation and prevent any possibility of interference with evidence relevant to the legislative inquiry.
The applicants relied on Sections 36(1) and 130(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Section 36(1) guarantees the right to fair hearing in the determination of civil rights and obligations, while Section 130(2) recognises the President as Head of State, Chief Executive of the Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The applicants are therefore asking the court to determine whether, in the circumstances presented before it, Dagazau should be required to step aside and whether the President should be directed to suspend him pending the House of Representatives investigation and the determination of the application.
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