In a legal confrontation that could have significant implications for the nation’s oil sector, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, has scheduled March 18 for its ruling on the preliminary objection raised by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) against a lawsuit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.
The dispute revolves around an oil import licence, with both parties entangled in a judicial contest over regulatory interpretations and corporate rights.
The court session witnessed an exchange of arguments as legal representatives for both entities formally presented their positions. Counsel for the NNPCL, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ademola Abimbola, and Dangote Refinery’s legal representative, SAN John Ibrahim, engaged in an extensive deliberation, each advancing their respective claims before the bench.
Justice Ekwo had previously scheduled the matter for hearing on the NNPCL’s preliminary objection after Ibrahim informed the court that a formal response to the objection had yet to be submitted.
At the resumed hearing, Abimbola asserted that the session was set for their application to be heard and confirmed readiness to proceed. Ibrahim, having filed a counter affidavit challenging the preliminary objection, equally expressed preparedness to argue in favor of the refinery’s stance.
In moving the application, Abimbola argued that their notice of preliminary objection, submitted on November 15, 2024, sought a court order either striking out the lawsuit entirely due to an alleged lack of jurisdiction or, alternatively, removing NNPCL’s name from the case.
He further noted that an affidavit and a written address had been submitted to support the application. Additionally, after receiving the refinery’s counter affidavit, NNPCL responded with a further affidavit on February 3, supplemented by a legal reply addressing key points of law.
He urged the court to either dismiss the lawsuit outright or at least remove the NNPCL as a named party in the case.
In rebuttal, Ibrahim stated that a five-paragraph counter affidavit, dated January 31, had been lodged alongside a corresponding written address. He proceeded to adopt the arguments presented within these filings and pressed the court to dismiss NNPCL’s preliminary objection, asserting that it lacked merit and was unwarranted.
Having carefully considered the submissions from both sides, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter, setting March 18 as the date for his ruling on the preliminary objection. The outcome of this decision is expected to influence the trajectory of the dispute, potentially impacting regulatory oversight and corporate maneuvering in Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape.
