The management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company limited has reacted a report in the media claiming it has slammed a N100bn suit against NNPCL; NMDPRA, MATRIX, others, saying the company has not filed any fresh suit against NNPCL and others.
In a statement issued late last night, Mr. Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Brand and Communication Officer clarified that the matter in question “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 President Bola Tinubu’s directive on crude oil and refined products sales in naira initiative, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC),” the statement said.
In the purported fresh report available on the media circuit since last night, Dangote was said to have “approached the Abuja division of the Federal High Court seeking an order to void import licenses issued to the 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 Dangote without shortfalls.”
“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, 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.”
“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).
“The plaintiff in its originating summons dated September 6, 2024, has 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.”
But in the statement issued by Mr. Chiejina, Dangote said: “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 in January 2025, we would be in a position to formally withdraw the matter in court.”
