Dangote Refinery has said that it would withdraw the lawsuit it instituted on September 6, 2024, against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other companies by January 2025.
The refinery said the suit has been overtaken by events.
The company in a statement on Monday by its Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, made this known in reaction to reports that it asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to void import licenses issued to the NNPC, Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, A.A. Rano Limited, and four other companies.
It was reported on Monday that the Dangote Refinery in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, also asked the court to award N100 billion in damages against the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for allegedly continuing to issue import licenses to NNPC Ltd, Matrix, and other companies for importing petroleum products such as diesel and aviation fuel into Nigeria.
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The case, according to the report, was adjourned to 20 January 2025.
Clarifying the suit, Mr Chiejina said the issue began in June and culminated in a matter being filed on 6 September. He said the parties have been engaged in discussions and events have overtaken the development.
According to him, the parties are now in discussion following President Bola Tinubu’s directive on crude oil and refined products sales in naira within Nigeria, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). He added that once the matter comes up in January 2025, the refinery will formally withdraw the case.
“No fresh case filed against NNPC, 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 President Bola Tinubu’s directive on Crude Oil and Refined products sales in the 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 in January 2025, we would be in a position to formally withdraw the matter in court,” Mr Chiejina said.
