The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned till 5 November 2025 the hearing of a landmark suit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE (hereafter “Dangote Refinery”) against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other parties. (Vanguard News)
Case background
The suit, number FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, was filed by Dangote Refinery on 6 September 2024. (newsfrontonline.com.ng)
Dangote Refinery is seeking ₦100 billion in damages alongside injunctive reliefs. (The Street Journal)
The defendant parties include:
The Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) (1st defendant) (Vanguard News)
NNPCL (2nd defendant) (Vanguard News)
Several oil‐marketing/import companies: AYM Shafa Limited, A.A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited (3rd to 7th defendants) (Vanguard News)
Key issues in dispute
Dangote Refinery argues that NMDPRA violated Sections 317(8) & (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by granting import licences to NNPCL and the other firms despite the existence of domestic refining capacity. According to the suit, such import licence issuance should only occur where there is a shortfall in supply. (newsfrontonline.com.ng)
The refinery contends it has invested heavily and is producing refined products, yet is being undercut by import licences granted to the defendants. (The Street Journal)
In response, NMDPRA and the marketers argue that Dangote’s production does not yet meet national consumption requirements, that imports remain necessary, and that Dangote is attempting to secure a monopoly. (Premium Times Nigeria)
NNPCL raised a preliminary objection, alleging the suit was incompetent and that the “Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC)” as sued did not exist as such (they say the correct entity is NNPCL). (Vanguard News)
Reason for Adjournment
The matter could not be heard as scheduled on Wednesday because the presiding judge, Mohammed Umar, was absent and sitting at the Enugu division of the Federal High Court. Therefore, the hearing was postponed to 5 November 2025. (Vanguard News)
Sources
