Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim of the National Industrial Court in Abuja has restrained the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, from embarking on its planned industrial action against Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Justice Sublim, ruling on an ex-parte application by Dangote Refinery on Monday, specifically restrained PENGASSAN from cutting crude and gas supply to Dangote Refinery.
Besides PENGASSAN, other defendants in the suit include Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd, NNPCL, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, George Ibrahim, argued that application for Dangote Refinery.
Meanwhile, The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) said it has engaged the services of human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, to defend it in a suit filed by three oil companies at the National Industrial Court, Abuja.
The union disclosed that it was dragged to court by Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE, MRS Oil Nigeria Limited, and MRS Oil & Gas Company Limited in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/279/2025.
NUPENG, in a statement signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, insisted it had the inalienable right to hire lawyers of its choice to defend the case.
The union also raised alarm over what it described as fraudulent activities of some impersonators parading as PTD Elders or PTD Leaders, warning the public and stakeholders to disregard such groups.
According to NUPENG, the only recognised leadership of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch is the executive led by Comrade Augustine Egbon as National Chairman.
“There is no known or recognised group within the PTD-NUPENG known as ‘PTD Elders’ or ‘PTD Leaders.’ Any person or group operating under such a designation is fraudulent, illegitimate and acting with criminal intent,” the statement said.
The union accused the alleged impersonators of being paid agents of unconscionable capitalists who are determined to destabilise NUPENG and weaken its influence in the oil and gas sector.
It further called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies to arrest and prosecute those behind the scheme.
NUPENG vowed to take all legal and industrial measures necessary to protect its integrity and safeguard the interests of its members.
