₦airaland Forum

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s request to join the lawsuit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery seeking to stop the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and oil marketers from importing refined petroleum products into the country.

Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed the commission’s application while delivering a ruling in the suit, stating that the dispute could be effectively determined without the inclusion of the FCCPC.

Justice Ekwo specifically held that the FCCPC was not a relevant or necessary party and rejected its application.

Dangote Refinery, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, sued the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NNPCL, AYM Shafa Limited, A.A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited as 1st to 7th defendants.

The refinery prayed the court to nullify the import licences issued by NMDPRA to NNPCL and the five other companies for importing refined petroleum products.

It also sought a declaration that NMDPRA violated Sections 317( and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act by issuing licences to import petroleum products, arguing that such licences should only be issued in cases of a petroleum product shortfall.

Dangote Refinery asserted that it has the capacity to meet local petroleum need.

It further sought N100bn in damages against NMDPRA for allegedly continuing to issue import licenses to NNPCL and the other companies, among other reliefs.

The FCCPC, in a motion on notice, sought to be joined as a party in the suit.

In its application for joinder, the FCCPC argued that it needed to be joined in the suit as the aim of Dangote Refinery to monopolise the petroleum industry was contrary to the FCCPC’s mandate to ensure a free market.

“The main thrust of Dangote Refinery’s suit borders on anti-competition and monopoly in the petroleum industry,” the FCCPC argued.

The commission further claimed that it needed to be joined in the suit because any judgment entered by the court would affect its mandate.

Dangote Refinery, however, opposed the FCCPC’s application to join the suit, describing the commission as a meddlesome interloper that had no business in a case revolving around the Petroleum Industry Act, an Act of the National Assembly.

Dangote Refinery urged the court to reject the FCCPC’s application.

NNPCL, the second defendant in the suit, filed a preliminary objection contesting the refinery’s suit and the jurisdiction of the court to hear it.

NNPCL also argued that Dangote Refinery sued a non-existent party, as the entity mentioned in the suit as the second defendant, “NNPC,” does not exist.

NNPCL added that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, being its registered name with the Corporate Affairs Commission, is not the same entity as the second defendant mentioned in the plaintiff’s suit.

NNPCL urged the court to strike out its name from the suit and challenged the locus standi of the plaintiff to file the action, which it termed “premature.”

“The 2nd defendant is not a competent party. The plaintiff’s suit is incompetent. This honourable court lacks the jurisdiction to hear this suit,” the NNPCL argued.

In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Ekwo dismissed both FCCPC’s request for joinder and the NNPCL’s application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit.

Justice Ekwo held that NNPCL’s objection lacked merit and proceeded to dismiss it.

The court granted the plaintiff’s prayers to amend the suit to reflect the proper name of the NNPCL, which Justice Ekwo approved.

He proceeded to adjourn the matter to March 6 for further mention.

Source: https://punchng.com/Fuel-import:-NNPCL-loses-bid-to-stop-Dangotes-N100bn-suit

No wonder the price war, dangote want to monopolize Nigeria oil sector.

useless news

Dangote just dey play chess while others are playing ludo.

Whatever will favour the Masses

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Dangote the deep thinker and a strategic fighter, a great business man that know how to put all his competitor in one basket so he can controlled the market.

Another price reduction loading.

God bless PBAT, Dangote, Otedola, Alakija, Adebutu, Adenuga and others who are making the masses smile ☺️






UNLIKE our arrogant FLAT HEADS BROTHERS WHO ARE ONLY SPECIALISED IN PEDDLING DRUGS WITH THEIR FLAT HEADS

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Salewa97:
Dangote just dey play chess while others are playing ludo.

And it's checkmate

They will soon import 70% of fuel very soon. Make una just sit down and look the coming weeks.

Dammnnn

Dangote is the man. Na person wey Sabi play him cards be this.

Ok

mejetov422:
Dangote the deep thinker and a strategic fighter, a great business man that know how to put all his competitor in one basket so he can controlled the market.

Another price reduction loading.

I wish you know the consequence of him winning this battle. If NNPCL stops competing as well, Dangote will inflates price at his will. That’s monopoly.

NNPCL is dangerous, what they are doing constitute an economic sabotage but Tinubu is backing them

We wish Dangote all the best in this case.

The judge has just secured 2 houses in the abroad for this

Osanoghodua1:
NNPCL is dangerous, what they are doing constitute an economic sabotage but Tinubu is backing them

I pity u
Una mumu no de ever do Una. All the sectors where dangote had monopoly, how did it turn out He will first reduce price to drive other players out of the market, then overbloat the price when he gains monopoly. That is his business profile and it is Nigerians that always suffer.

Terrible 🌽🌴

People are so naive and forgetful. I can see comments up here hailing Dangote and I shake my head on the commenters' ignorance.

Dangote is a wolve and an unscrupulous capitalist. All he's doing now is to bully other players out of the market and once that happens, he goes for the masses' jugular and fix whatever price he likes. Una go hear nwen!

The cement industry should be an enough example for you guys.

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I thought portharcourt and warri refinery are all working in full capacity? Why are they still importing fuel? Can propaganda urchins explain to us?

Lol . We have asked the question since day one…if dangote refinery is working like he told us, what is his business with importers? Are they importing with his money?.,,, because normally he shouldn’t be in competition with them since he claims he isn’t importing

Chimarto:
No wonder the price war, dangote want to monopolize Nigeria oil sector.

Why are they still importing fuel? They as a whole NNPC still importing fuel. Despite claiming that the national refineries are now operating?

They will now be increasing price and saying "petrol landing cost is high☹️

So the marketers too plus NNPCL will prefer developing other people's countries by carrying our fuel to be refined in Malta that doesn't even have crude oil. Marketers and NNPC are full of economic saboteurs

If they grant this Dangote request, you would see how Dangote would jack the Ex depot price to 1500 per litre. We saw it in the cement industry how henadd 500naira every 3months. Very wicked man

I trust Dangote will win this case.

This is just an attempt to frustrate him.

Chimarto:
No wonder the price war, dangote want to monopolize Nigeria oil sector.

Then rather than importing, build your own refinery or make the already built ones functional. By doing so, you will create employment for Nigerias and stop chasing forex needed for importation of petroleum products.