Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has withdrawn its lawsuit challenging the issuance of petroleum import licences to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and several oil marketers.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/idrinstitute.png")
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
The legal action, filed in September 2024 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, sought to nullify the import licences issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), arguing that they violated the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and undermined local refining efforts. The refinery also demanded ₦100 billion in damages from the NMDPRA.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, listed NMDPRA, NNPCL, and five oil marketing firms as defendants. Dangote Refinery contended that the licensing regime discouraged domestic refining by enabling continued reliance on imported petroleum products.
However, the defendants maintained that the move by Dangote Refinery was anti-competitive and aimed at creating a monopoly. The NMDPRA insisted that the issuance of import licences was necessary to maintain market stability amid the refinery’s evolving production capacity.
NNPCL, in its preliminary objection, argued that it was wrongly joined in the case and that the refinery lacked the legal standing to sue. Although the court dismissed the objection on procedural grounds, Dangote Refinery later sought to amend the suit to correct identified misnomers.
With the matter set for substantive hearing on September 29, the refinery filed a notice of discontinuance, formally ending the legal proceedings. The notice, signed by its lead counsel, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), did not disclose any reason for the withdrawal.
“History of Rivers State Judiciary: A Compendium of Personalities on the Bench.” Authored by Ampim Gogo Blankson, Esq., Deputy Director at the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the Rivers State Judiciary 💰 Cover Price: ₦20,000.00 (Twenty Thousand Naira) Bukky Law Books, Rivers State High Court Complex, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt – 📞 08034868754📞 08034729738📞 Enquiries: ______________________________________________________________________ Four New Titles From Prof. Ozekhome SAN Address Judiciary, Separation Of Powers, And Media --- Order Now 
📞 Enquiries: +234 704 044 9375 | +234 814 813 4773 | +234 816 872 3532 📧 Email: educodexl@gmail.com Follow the voice of wisdom. Read Prof. Mike Ozekhome. Be inspired. Be enlightened. Be empowered. ___________________________________________________________________ Grab Your Complete Law Reports Now!!! IP, Company, Evidence & Land Cases - All Volumes With Digital Index!!!
To get a copy kindly Call 07044444777, 07044444999, 08181999888, https://alexandernigeria.com/ ______________________________________________________________________
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
