The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) request to join a lawsuit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
According to a report by Punch Newspaper, Dangote refinery is seeking to stop the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and oil marketers from importing refined petroleum products into the country.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his ruling, stated that the FCCPC’s involvement was unnecessary for resolving the dispute.
He emphasized that the case could be effectively determined without the commission’s participation, describing it as irrelevant to the matter at hand.
Dangote Refinery had sued NNPCL and several oil marketers, seeking to nullify import licenses issued by the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The refinery argued that these licenses violate the Petroleum Industry Act, which permits imports only in cases of product shortages. It also claimed to have the capacity to meet local demand.
Additionally, Dangote Refinery is seeking N100bn in damages from NMDPRA for allegedly continuing to issue import licenses despite its objections. The refinery opposed the FCCPC’s attempt to join the suit, calling it a “meddlesome interloper” with no relevance to the case.
NNPCL, on its part, challenged the court’s jurisdiction and argued that it was wrongly named in the suit. However, Justice Ekwo dismissed NNPCL’s objections, allowing Dangote Refinery to amend the suit to reflect the correct name of the company.
The case has been adjourned to March 6 for further mention. The ruling marks a significant step in the ongoing dispute over fuel importation and market control in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
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