Court bars PENGASSAN, others from halting Dangote refinery operations

The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) from embarking on industrial action against the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Free Zone Enterprise.

The order followed an application filed by the refinery’s legal team, led by James Onoja (SAN) of Ogwu James Onoja Law Firm, and argued by George Ibrahim, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim, in his ruling, held that the balance of convenience was in favour of the refinery, noting that any disruption of crude oil and gas supply would not only cripple the company’s operations but also affect the provision of essential services to Nigerians.

The court specifically barred the defendants from cutting crude and gas supply to the refinery, blocking access roads, obstructing vehicular movement, or taking any action capable of shutting down its operations.

Justice Subilim stressed that the interim order was necessary to preserve industrial peace and protect the public interest pending the determination of the substantive suit.

However, counsel to Dangote Refinery, Onoja, informed the court that all efforts to serve the restraining order on the defendants had failed, as they allegedly evaded service by claiming to be on strike.

The motion on notice is expected to come up for hearing on a later date.