Three oil marketers, AYM Shafa Limited, A.A. Rano Limited and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, have filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, requesting the court to dismiss a suit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals challenging the issuance of import licences to the marketers.
Dangote Refinery, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, had earlier requested the court to award N100 billion in damages against the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for issuing import licenses to some marketers and allowing the importation of petroleum products.
The marketers are NNPC Ltd, Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, and 2015 Petroleum Limited.
In the suit dated 6 September 2024, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, asked the court to declare that NMDPRA is allegedly in violation of Sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act by issuing licenses for the importation of petroleum products.
The Dangote Refinery said such licenses should only be issued in circumstances where there is a petroleum product shortfall.
