Rights lawyer urges President to halt fresh crude-backed borrowing, questions NNPC refinancing plan, calls for northern Christian vice-presidential candidate ahead of 2027.
Thirty years after writing an open letter that led to his detention under the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha, Nigerian lawyer and international human rights advocate Emmanuel Ogebe has returned with another pointed message to the nation’s leader—this time challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over governance, public borrowing, insecurity and what he describes as the continued marginalisation of northern Christians.
In the second instalment of an open letter released to mark the 30th anniversary of his 1996 incarceration, Ogebe urged President Tinubu to halt the proposed Project Gazelle 2, a planned $4.5 billion crude-backed financing arrangement, arguing that key questions surrounding the earlier $3.3 billion Project Gazelle facility remain unanswered.
The Washington-based lawyer questioned the rationale for securing another multibillion-dollar facility against Nigeria’s future crude oil production when, according to his calculations, repayments from oil deliveries under the first transaction should already have extinguished the original debt.
“Project Gazelle 1 debt should have already been paid off,” Ogebe argued, contending that Nigeria ought to have accumulated a surplus rather than seek additional borrowing.
His letter comes days after the National Economic Council (NEC) approved the refinancing of the existing facility through a new $4.5 billion Project Gazelle 2 arrangement. According to the Federal Government, the refinancing is expected to reduce the volume of crude pledged under the agreement while unlocking additional liquidity to support fiscal priorities and strengthen external reserves.
Ogebe, however, questioned what specific projects would be financed through the new facility, arguing that official references to “liquidity” and “support for fiscal priorities” lacked sufficient public detail.
He also challenged the legal basis of the approval, contending that the National Economic Council lacked constitutional authority to commit Nigeria’s future oil production without the involvement of the Federal Executive Council or legislative approval.
Calls for Greater Transparency
The lawyer further criticised the financial management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), citing previous reports on the corporation’s administrative expenditure and borrowing profile.
He argued that greater public accountability should precede any fresh crude-backed borrowing and called on the Federal Government to suspend the refinancing arrangement pending a fuller explanation of how proceeds from the earlier facility were utilised.
Among the alternatives proposed, Ogebe suggested that Nigeria could explore mechanisms allowing citizens to participate directly in investment linked to the country’s petroleum assets rather than relying exclusively on external lenders.
Shettima, Security and 2027 Politics
Beyond economic issues, Ogebe revisited the political debate surrounding the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, urging President Tinubu to consider choosing a northern Christian as his running mate if he seeks re-election.
He criticised the continued retention of Vice President Kashim Shettima, arguing that it deepened feelings of exclusion among many northern Christians.
The lawyer also revisited the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, questioning decisions taken while Shettima served as Governor of Borno State. He linked his criticism to longstanding concerns over insecurity and called for stronger accountability in Nigeria’s response to terrorism.
Ogebe welcomed the recent convictions secured in connection with school abductions in the South-West but questioned what he described as disparities in the treatment of terrorism-related offences compared with other criminal cases. He also renewed his opposition to programmes involving the deradicalisation and reintegration of former insurgents, arguing that such initiatives should be discontinued.
‘Ghost Government’
Another section of the letter focused on governance and public administration.
Referring to recent controversies surrounding an alleged non-existent government agency that reportedly received budgetary allocations, Ogebe described the development as evidence of serious institutional failure.
He argued that the existence of what he called a “ghost agency” within government structures raised broader questions about public sector oversight, due diligence and accountability.
A Letter Framed by History
Ogebe’s latest intervention carries personal significance.
He noted that the letter coincides with the 30th anniversary of the open letter he addressed to General Abacha in 1996, an action that led to his detention for about two months during military rule.
Drawing parallels between that period and current national debates, he urged President Tinubu to pursue reforms that would strengthen transparency, improve security and promote greater inclusion across religious and regional lines.
While acknowledging what he described as progress in areas such as increased oil production and the recent approval of oil exploration in Benue State, Ogebe maintained that the administration now had an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy through stronger accountability, constitutional governance and more inclusive political leadership.
