A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s request to dismiss a ₦100 billion lawsuit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals over an import license dispute.
Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled that the NNPCL failed to follow proper legal procedures by filing a preliminary objection instead of responding to the refinery’s lawsuit with a counter affidavit.
The court faulted the NNPCL for violating Order 16 of the Federal High Court rules by submitting an “incompetent preliminary objection” rather than addressing the case directly.
Justice Ekwo stated, “Where the issue of jurisdiction is raised, the court can address it at the time of judgment.”
He also ruled that the NNPCL would not suffer any injustice if Dangote Refinery amended its suit to properly cite the company’s name.
Dangote Refinery had applied to the court for permission to correct the name of the NNPCL in its lawsuit.
The judge granted the amendment, allowing the refinery to proceed with the case.
This ruling marks an important step in the legal battle between the Dangote Refinery and the NNPCL over import licenses.
