A Federal High Court has dismissed NNPCL’s bid to stop Dangote Refinery’s ₦100 billion lawsuit challenging fuel import licenses. The ruling also rejected the FCCPC’s intervention request. The case, which could reshape Nigeria’s petroleum sector, will continue in March as Dangote fights to limit fuel imports.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) attempt to stop a ₦100 billion lawsuit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery over fuel importation. Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled against both NNPCL’s objection and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) bid to join the case.
Dangote Refinery initiated the legal battle to challenge the issuance of fuel import licenses to NNPCL and other private marketers, arguing that such permits contradict the Petroleum Industry Act. The refinery insists it has sufficient capacity to meet Nigeria’s fuel demands and seeks to prevent imports that could disrupt its market position.
The FCCPC sought to join the case, asserting that Dangote’s lawsuit could lead to a monopoly in the petroleum sector. However, the court rejected the commission’s request, ruling that the case could proceed without its involvement.
NNPCL, in its defense, questioned the validity of the suit, arguing that the entity mentioned in the legal filing, "NNPC," does not exist in its registered corporate name. The court dismissed this claim and allowed Dangote Refinery to amend its filing to reflect the correct entity name.
With the legal battle ongoing, industry experts anticipate significant implications for Nigeria’s fuel supply chain and competition in the downstream sector. The case has been adjourned until March 6 for further proceedings.
