YOUTH ACTIVIST DRAGS PETROL MARKETERS TO COURT FOR FUEL PRICE INCREASE

A youth activist and Executive Director of Campaign for the Sustenance of Democracy and Good Governance in Nigerian (CASEDGIN), Comrade Godwin Tom FredFish has dragged the Registered Trustees Of The Independent Petroleum Marketers, Association Of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Co-ordinating Committee (IPMAN), before the Federal High Court in Uyo for arbitrarily fixing / increasing the price of premium motor spirit otherwise called petrol without consulting the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency PPPR, established by the federal government, thereby causing untold hardship to the people, residents and visitors of Akwa Ibom State.

In Suit No:/FHC/UY/CS/28/2017 brought before the inherent Jurisdiction Of the Federal High Court of Uyo dated 1st March, 2017, by the claimants lawyer, Barrister Samuel Okon, Esq of White Waters Chambers, Tom fredfish noted that the IPMAN and other parties in the suit should enter appearance and tell the honourable court if they have right to arbitrarily fixed or increase premium motor spirit otherwise called petrol and that the 2nd to 6th defendants who has a duty and obligation to prevent the 1st defendant from the said increment should also appear to explain why they allowed such increment which falls within the provisions of the price control Act 1977, the Petroleum Act 1969 and the Petroleum Pricing Regulatory Agency Act, 2004.

In a sworn affidavit to support the motion, Tom FredFish alleged that IPMAN has been selling fuel beyond the pump price approved by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency PPRA, from one hundred and forty five naira to one hundred and seventy naira and one hundred and eighty naira since Wednesday 22nd February till the till of filling the suit.

Averring his claims further, the youth activist noted that just like other Akwa Ibom residents he bought the said product on Sunday 26th February 2017 above the pomp price of one hundred and forty five naira from three fuelling stations in Uyo metropolis and that no reason was given for the increment as there is no increment of pump price in other states of the federation. That the official pump price of PMS was last increased from 86.5 to 145 per litre by the Federal Government on Wednesday 1st May, 2016. And that he has checked the PPPRA website and the price remained the same.

Tom FredFish alleged that the action of the Independent Petroleum Marketers, Association Of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Co-Ordinating Committee (IPMAN) amounts to interference with the constitutional rights of the 2nd to 6th defendants as IPMAN action is insensitive to the plight of Akwa Ibom people both resident, visitors and indigenes especially the poor who are suffering as a result of the increase and that as a good citizen of Nigeria, a human rights activist, he owes it a duty to undertake the legal action to ask the court to sanction IPMAN and make them rescind their action. Noting that unless restrained, IPMAN will continue to fix, tinker and increase the price of fuel.

It would be recalled that Akwa Ibom State experienced systematic increase in the price of fuel from Wednesday 22nd February to 1st March 2017 where a large percentage of fuelling stations shut down while others soled at exorbitant prices ranging from 160 to 250 naira.

Joined in the suit as 2nd to 6th defendants are the Petroleum Products Monitoring Committee, Akwa Ibom State, the Attorney General For the Federation (AGF), the Attorney General And Commissioner For Justice, Akwa Ibom State, the Department Of Petroleum Resources, the Petroleum Products Pricing, Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

Tom FredFish who had before now defended Akwa Ibom state in a case instituted against TELL magazine in 2010 said that his action against IPMAN is to make positive and useful contribution to the achievements progress and well being of Akwa Ibom State where he reside. He is therefore praying that the court should restrain IPMAN from selling, tinkering and increasing fuel price as well as taking the constitutional powers on themselves to increase fuel price and an order by the court for IPMAN to revert fuel price in Akwa Ibom State to hundred and forty five naira as approved by the Petroleum Products Pricing, Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

The 8th of March, 2017 has been fixed for hearing of the case.