By Abdulkarim Ibrahim
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has discontinued its lawsuit against the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and five other petroleum companies. The suit, filed on September 6, 2024, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, was formally withdrawn by the plaintiff’s legal team.
A notice of discontinuance was filed with the court, indicating Dangote Refinery’s decision to end the proceedings against all seven defendants. The defendants include AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited.
The withdrawal notice, dated July 28, was signed by Dangote Refinery’s lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ogwu Onoja. This development marks the end of the legal proceedings initiated by Dangote Refinery.
With the withdrawal of the suit, the case against the defendants has come to a close. The reasons behind Dangote Refinery’s decision to discontinue the lawsuit have not been detailed in the available information.
“Take notice that the plaintiff herein discontinues this suit against the defendants forthwith,” parts of the court notice read.
Intel Region reports that Dangote Refinery had filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and several other companies, seeking N100 billion in damages. The refinery claimed that NMDPRA violated the Petroleum Industry Act by issuing licenses for petroleum product imports.
The defendants in the case included NNPC Ltd, Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, and 2015 Petroleum Limited. Dangote Refinery argued that the importation of petroleum products harmed its business.
NNPC Ltd raised a preliminary objection, arguing that the suit was incompetent due to a naming error. However, Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled in favor of Dangote Refinery, stating that the error did not render the suit defective. The court allowed Dangote Refinery to amend its filings and proceed with the case.
The case was scheduled for hearing on September 29, 2025. In a previous hearing, the plaintiff’s lead counsel requested an adjournment to allow time for all parties to regularize their legal submissions.
Dangote Refinery has now withdrawn the lawsuit, just two months before the scheduled hearing. The decision to drop the suit has sparked speculation about the reasons behind it.
Industry insiders suggest that behind-the-scenes negotiations may have led to an amicable resolution. However, it remains unclear whether a financial settlement was reached or if policy concessions were granted.
The withdrawal of the lawsuit could be attributed to various factors, including a strategic decision by Dangote Refinery or an out-of-court settlement. Without official confirmation, the exact reason remains speculative.
The discontinuation of the lawsuit marks the end of the legal proceedings initiated by Dangote Refinery. The impact of this development on the petroleum industry and the parties involved remains to be seen.