By Olayiwola Mercy
The Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a N100 billion lawsuit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its co-defendants over an oil import license dispute. The court dismissed the suit following an oral application by the defense lawyers after counsel for Dangote, C.O. Adegbe, withdrew the suit.
The suit was initially filed to nullify import licenses issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to NNPC and five other companies for importing refined petroleum products. Dangote Refinery also sought N100 billion in damages against NMDPRA for allegedly continuing to issue import licenses to NNPC and the five companies for importing petroleum products.
Justice Mohammed Umar granted Dangote’s motion to amend its originating motion by correcting the name of the NNPCL. However, the judge dismissed the suit without costs after Adegbe informed the court that Dangote had resolved to withdraw the case. The NMDPRA and other defendants argued that the suit was misconceived, unmeritorious, and incompetent, and that Dangote Refinery was not entitled to any of the reliefs sought.
The court also dismissed the motion for joinder filed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for being an unnecessary party and a “meddlesome interloper”. The defendants, including AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, claimed that Dangote Refinery did not produce adequate petroleum products for daily consumption in Nigeria.
The dismissal of the suit is seen as a significant development in the oil industry, with implications for the country’s refining capacity and energy security. The court’s decision highlights the complexities of the oil industry in Nigeria and the need for stakeholders to work together to address the challenges facing the sector.
