Court adjourns Dangote’s N100bn suit against oil marketers till Jan 30

Ogunsakin Mustapha
3 Min Read

By Hassanat Adebowale

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the ₦100 billion lawsuit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and six other defendants to January 30.

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The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, includes other defendants such as the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), AYM Shafa Limited, A.A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited.

Dangote Refinery is seeking a court order to restrain the issuance of oil import licenses to the mentioned oil marketers. The plaintiff also seeks to invalidate the licenses already issued by NMDPRA, arguing that such actions violate sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). The company further demands ₦100 billion in damages for the continued issuance of import licenses.

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At the resumed sitting, the plaintiff’s counsel, George Ibrahim (SAN), sought leave to amend the originating summons. However, he admitted that the defendants had not been properly served with the amended summons. Consequently, Justice Ekwo adjourned the case to allow for proper service and completion of court filings.

During the proceedings, NNPCL’s counsel, Abimbola, pointed out that the company had been included in the suit under an incorrect registered name. This led to the plaintiff amending the suit after it gained media attention.

Defense lawyers confirmed they had not received the amended summons and requested proper service before proceeding. The trial judge directed the plaintiff’s counsel to ensure all necessary filings and service are completed by the next hearing date.

Olanrewaju Oshinaike’s attempt to join another party in the suit was deferred until the service issue is resolved.

In their counter affidavits, AYM Shafa Ltd, A.A. Rano Ltd, and Matrix Petroleum Services Ltd argued that their import licenses were lawfully issued in compliance with the PIA and other relevant laws. They contended that Dangote Refinery does not produce enough petroleum products to meet Nigeria’s demand and monopolizing the sector could harm the economy.

The defendants warned that relying solely on Dangote Refinery could lead to supply shortages and higher costs in case of operational disruptions.

The case will continue on January 30 for further hearing.

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