Import licence: NNPCL asks court to strike out Dangote Refinery’s suit

The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE, citing incompetence and prematurity ¹.

NNPCL’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, argued that Dangote Refinery lacks the standing to institute the suit and that the court lacks jurisdiction. The corporation seeks two orders: one to strike out the suit due to lack of jurisdiction and another to remove NNPCL’s name from the suit.

Dangote Refinery had sued NNPCL and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) over import licenses for refined petroleum products. The company claimed that NMDPRA violated the Petroleum Industry Act by issuing licenses despite Dangote Refinery’s production exceeding national demand.

Three oil marketers (AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited) also petitioned the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that granting Dangote’s application would harm Nigeria’s oil sector.

The court has scheduled January 20, 2025, for a report on settlement or service.