Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE has notified the Federal High Court Abuja of its discontinuance of its N100 billion import licence lawsuit against Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and others.
The notice of discontinuance dated July 28, 2025, was filed by the refinery’s lawyer, George Ibrahim SAN, Nairametrics reports.
“TAKE NOTICE that the Plaintiff (Dangote Refinery) herein discontinues this suit against the Defendants forthwith,” the notice reads.
The refinery had, in the last proceedings, faulted the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) second attempt to join and challenge its N100 billion import license lawsuit.
The refinery’s lawyer, George Ibrahim, SAN, explained to the Federal High Court in Abuja why the Commission was “no longer necessary” as a party in the case.
Legal Dispute
The pending suit by Dangote Refinery, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, sought to void import licenses issued to several Nigerian oil companies by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
These companies include, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, A.A. Rano Limited and four others
What’s Next?
- The development implies that the refinery has informed the court that it will no longer pursue the import licence suit.
- At the next adjourned date, the refinery’s legal team will be expected to make an oral application for discontinuance, in line with rules of court.
- It will then be left to the presiding judge to make a pronouncement on the application.
Sunday Michael Ogwu is a Nigerian journalist and editor of Pinnacle Daily. He is known for his work in business and economic reporting. He has held editorial roles in prominent Nigerian media outlets, where he has focused on economic policy, financial markets, and developmental issues affecting Nigeria and Africa more broadly.
