N100bn in damages:  Dangote Refinery to withdraw court cases against NNPLC, others by 2025

The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has revealed plans to withdraw court cases against Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC), Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, and four other companies for the purpose of importing refined petroleum products that are already being produced by refinery come January 2025.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE in June 2024 asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to void import licenses issued to the NNPC, Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, and four other companies for the purpose of importing refined petroleum products that are already being produced by Dangote without shortfalls.

READ ALSO: N100bn in damages: Dangote Refinery in court seeking annulment of import licences to NNPCL, others

Group Chief Brand and Communication Officer, Anthony Chiejina, responding to the news of the court case  titled, “No fresh cash filed against NNPCL, others” explained that the court case is old issue that started in June and culminated in a matter being filed on September 6, 2024.

Chiejina in a statement obtained by WESTEN POST said the parties involved are currently in discussion since the President Bola Tinubu’s directive on crude oil and refined products sales in Naira initiative, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

“We have made tremendous progress in that regard and events have taken this development.

“No party has been served with court processes and there is no intention of doing so. We have agreed to put a halt to proceedings.

“It is important to stress that no orders have been made and there are no adverse effect on any party. We understand that once the matter comes up January 2025, we would be in position to formally withdrawn the matter in court,” the statement added. 

In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, Dangote Refinery is also seeking N100 billion in damages against the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for allegedly continuing to issue import licenses to NNPCL, Matrix Energy, and other companies for importing petroleum products such as Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Jet Fuel (aviation turbine fuel) into Nigeria, “despite the production of AGO and Jet-A1 that exceeds the current daily consumption of petroleum products in Nigeria by the Dangote Refinery.”

According to report, joined as defendants in the case are NMDPRA, NNPCL, Aym Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited (1st to 7th defendants).

In its originating summons dated September 6, 2024, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, asked the court to declare that NMDPRA is allegedly in violation of Sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act by issuing licenses for the importation of petroleum products.