The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has dragged the Board of Trustees Representative of EMOIMEE in Eket Local Government Area, Air Commodore Charles Usoh, Rtd., the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Seplat Joint Venture to the Federal High Court, Uyo Judicial Division over failure to comply with its request for information pursuant to Sections 1 and 3 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
This was disclosed in a Press Release issued by the CHRAN's Secretary of Research and Documentation, Comrade Etimbuk Ekpenyong, and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Thursday, 12th February, 2026.
In suit No. FHC/UY/CS/10/2026 between the Center For Human Rights and Accountability Network, Otuekong Franklyn Isong as Applicants and Air Commodore Charles Usoh (Rtd.), The Board of Trustees, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Seplat Joint Venture as Respondents, the Applicants are seeking the following reliefs: an order of the court mandating the Respondents (Air Commodore Charles Usoh (Rtd.), NNPC/SEPLAT JV, EMOIMEE) to produce the full list of projects executed by them or through their agents or subsidiaries in Eket Local Government Area and the projects’ locations; the full list of scholarship beneficiaries undertaken by the Respondents in Eket Local Government Area directly or through their agents or subsidiaries; the full list of contractors engaged by the Respondents in Eket Local Government Area with copies of their Corporate Affairs Commission Certificate; details of any other interventions carried out in Eket Local Government since inception of the Host Community Trust; and the CHRAN is also asking the Court to grant any such order(s) in which the Court may deem fit to make in the circumstance.
The rights group through its lawyers, Chief Victor Iyanam, a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Akwa Ibom State and Chris Ibanga, Esq., maintains that the establishment of agencies under the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 to manage the 3 percent contribution to the Eket Host Community by its settlor, the NNPC/Seplat JV regulated by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) is a welcome development which should be managed responsibly by the Host Community Trust Fund.
The CHRAN, an anti-corruption cum civil society organisation had in response to complaints from the people of Eket Local Government Area, in pursuant to Sections 1 and 2 of the FOI Act, 2011 written to the Respondents (NNPC/SEPLAT JV, EMOIMEE) through a letter dated 19th November, 2025, requested information on the full list of projects executed by them in Eket Local Government Area and the projects’ locations; the full list of scholarship beneficiaries undertaken by the Respondents in Eket Local Government Area directly; the full list of contractors engaged by the Respondents in Eket Local Government Area with copies of their Corporate Affairs Commission Certificate; and any other interventions carried out in Eket Local Government since inception of the Host Community Trustfund (EMOIMEE).
The matter has been assigned to the Federal High Court 2, Uyo Judicial Division for hearing and determination. 23rd February, 2026 has been fixed for the hearing.
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