Dangote Refinery has explained there no new litigation against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other defendants over import licenses for petroleum products.
This came in the aftermath a report on October 21, 2024, stating that Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja asking for the cancellation of import licenses granted to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, AA Rano Limited, and four other companies.
According to the report, the case centred on the importation of refined petroleum products that Dangote Refinery claimed were already being produced domestically without shortages.
In the suit, Dangote Refinery is also demanding ₦100bn in damages from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Dangote Refinery, according to the report, alleged that the NMDPRA has unlawfully continued to issue import licenses to the NNPCL, Matrix Energy, and others for products like diesel and jet fuel, despite Dangote’s production capacity exceeding Nigeria’s current daily consumption of these products.
This development, Newsmart however learnt, follows an initial lawsuit filed on September 6, 2024.
And so in a swift reaction, Dangote Group explained that both parties are currently engaged in discussions, prompted by President Bola Tinubu’s directive on crude oil sales in Naira.
In a press statement, the refinery emphasized that no court orders have been issued and intends to formally withdraw the case during the next court appearance in January 2025, this highlighting significant progress in negotiations.
Below is full text of Dangote Group’s press statement
No Fresh Case filed against NNPCL, others
“This is an old issue that started in June and culminated in a matter being filed on September 6, 2024
“Currently, the parties are 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 overtaken 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 the proceedings.
“It is important to stress that no orders have been made and there are no adverse effects on any party. We understand that once the matter comes up January 2025, we would be in a position to formally withdraw the matter in court”