Dangote Refinery Seeks To Amend Suit Challenging NNPC’s Import Licences

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has sought to amend its suit against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and other defendants.

The plea to amend the suit followed an application by the NNPC before Inyang Ekwo, presiding judge at the federal high court in Abuja, urging the court to strike out the case.

In a motion on notice, dated November 25 and filed November 28 by Ogwu Onoja, the oil company’s lawyer, sought an order, granting leave to the company to amend its originating summons in accordance with the rules of the court.

According to NAN, the refinery said it would enable it to correct the name of the second defendant to read “Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited,” instead of “Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC)” earlier listed.

In his affidavit supporting the motion, Vincent Sani, a litigation clerk at the Onoja law firm, said he was informed by one of the lawyers, Innocent Adoo, on November 25 that after the filing of the originating processes in the suit, he observed that the 2nd defendant’s name was erroneously spelt, hence, the need for the amendment.

Sani said the aforementioned amendment had become necessary in order for the record of the court to bear the proper description of NNPC as a party in the suit.

‘NNPC YET TO BE SERVED’

The litigation clerk said the NNPC was yet to be served with the originating processes sought to be amended.

He said the proposed amended originating summons, supporting affidavit, and written address, were marked as “Exhibit A”.

Sani, who submitted that the defendants/respondents would not be prejudiced if the application is granted, said justice would be better served if the plea is considered.

The NNPC had asked a federal high court in Abuja to strike out a suit filed by Dangote refinery, seeking the withdrawal of its import licence.

The company argued that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC) sued by the refinery was a non-existent entity.

Three oil marketers had prayed to a federal high court in Abuja to dismiss the suit filed by Dangote refinery, seeking withdrawal of the traders’ licences.

The marketers were AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited.

Dangote refinery had asked a federal high court in Abuja to void import licences issued to NNPC Limited, Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, and four other companies.

The company had prayed the court to declare that the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) was in violation of Sections 317(

and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by issuing licences for petroleum products importation.

Ekwo had fixed January 20, 2025, for the report of settlement or service.

Source:- Thecableng