A lawsuit has been filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery And Petrochemicals Ltd, At The Federal High Court In Abuja, Requesting The Annulment Of Import Licenses Granted To The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) And Six Others.
In The Suit, Dangote’s Claims Center On The Importation Of Refined Petroleum Products.Which The Oil Mogul Claims Are Already Being Produced Domestically Without Shortages.
Dangote Refinery Is Also Demanding N100 Billion In Damages From The Nigeria Midstream And Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The Refinery Alleges That NMDPRA Has Unlawfully Continued To Issue Import Licenses To NNPCL, Matrix Energy, And Others For Products Like Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), And Jet Fuel Despite Dangote’s Production Capacity Exceeding Nigeria’s Current Daily Consumption Of These Products.
In The Originating Summons, Dangote’s Counsel Argues That NMDPRA Has Violated Sections 317(8) And (9) Of The Petroleum Industry Act By Issuing Import Licenses Under Circumstances Where No Product Shortfall Exists, Contending That Such Licenses Should Only Be Granted When There Is a Demonstrated Need For Imported Products.
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At The Proceeding On Monday, Counsel For Dangote Informed The Court Of Ongoing Discussions Between The Parties, Aimed At Reaching a Settlement, They However Requested For An Adjournment To Facilitate These Negotiations.
The Trial Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo Therefore Adjourned The Case To January 20, 2025, For The Report On The Negotiations.
Other Defendants In The Suit Are Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, Amongst Others
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
