Court stops PENGASSAN, others from cutting gas supply to Dangote refinery

…PENGASSAN barricades NNPCL Towers, NMDPRA, NUPRC arsenic onslaught begins

…NLC orders nationwide onslaught mobilisation against Dangote

…Puts NUPENG, electricity, larboard workers, different captious assemblage unions connected alert

By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA — The National Industrial Court sitting successful Abuja yesterday restrained the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASAN, from embarking connected its planned concern enactment against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.

The bid came past nighttime arsenic some parties were locked successful a reconciliation gathering convened by the Federal Government to resoluteness contentious issues betwixt them. At property clip past night,it was learned that the gathering was inactive on, with nary statement reached betwixt some parties.

However, the court, successful a ruling delivered by Justice Emmanuel Subilim, made the order, pursuing an ex-parte exertion filed earlier it by Dangote Refinery

Other defendants successful the substance included the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd, NNPCL, Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum, NDMP, arsenic good arsenic the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC.

The tribunal specifically barred the defendants from cutting crude and state proviso to Dangote Refinery.
In the question filed done a squad of lawyers, led by Mr. Ogwu Onoja, SAN, Dangote Refinery applied for an bid of interim injunction to restrain the 1st defendant, its members, agents, servants, privies, representatives, assigns oregon whatsoever and, howsoever, called, from calling oregon directing the halt of crude and state proviso to the claimant, nether immoderate guise.

The bid is besides to halt them from embarking connected immoderate concern enactment against the claimant, with a presumption to crippling, blocking roads oregon obstructing the travel of vehicular movement, shutting down operations of the claimant oregon licensees of the 2nd to 4th defendants named successful the 1st defendant’s directives dated September 26, 2025 oregon by immoderate means frustrating the businesses/activities of the claimant/Applicant, pending the proceeding and determination of the question connected notice.

The litigant arsenic sought an bid of interim injunction restraining the 2nd – 4th defendants, their employees, members, agents, servants, privies, representatives, licensees, assigns oregon whatsoever and howsoever called, from giving effect to the directives of the 1st suspect to halt the proviso of crude and state to the claimant oregon joining, continuing, embarking on, oregon successful immoderate mode participating successful the planned concern enactment of the 1st suspect and its affiliates and cronies, oregon immoderate different onslaught whatsoever, against the claimant/Applicant, with a presumption to frustrating her businesses and operations, pending the proceeding and determination of the Motion connected Notice.

Dangote Refinery told the tribunal that it is simply a petroleum accumulation and oregon organisation institution licensed to own, run and nutrient petroleum and petrochemical products for the depletion of the Nigerian public, and whose concern provides indispensable services to the system and the wide public.

Dangote alleges sabotage astatine refinery

It averred that recently, determination had been incidents of sabotage by immoderate employees astatine its plant, which brought up issues of sedate wellness interest and information of quality lives.

According to the claimant, its absorption came to an irresistible decision that determination should beryllium re-organisation successful the plant, which led to relieving immoderate of its unit of their employment, with aforesaid communicated to each unit by a memo dated September 25, 2025.

Counsel to the claimant further told the tribunal that successful the aboriginal hours of September 26, the claimant received online reports that it laid workers disconnected due to the fact that they joined the 1st defendant’s union.

He said the absorption of the claimant, done a property statement, debunked the allegation and explained that the institution is not averse to its members joining unions arsenic specified was wrong their law rights.

He disclosed that the claimant has implicit 3,000 Nigerians successful its workforce, insisting that lone a negligible fig of unit members were affected by the re-organisation occasioned by sabotage and information concerns.

The lawyer arsenic told the tribunal that by a missive dated September 26 and circulated online, the 1st defendant, done its General Secretary, Mr. Lamumba Oku...