Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim of the National Industrial Court in Abuja has restrained the Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Association of Nigeria (PENGASSON) from embarking on its planned industrial action against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.

Justice Sub,lim in a ruling on ex parterte application by Dangote Refinery, specifically restrained the defenda,nts which included Nigeria National Petroleum Company td, (NNPCL), Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum, and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commiss,ion from cutting crude and gas supply to Dangote Refinery.

George Ibrahim a senior advocate of Nigeria argued the application and secured the order against the defendants.

The senior lawyer applied for order of interim injunction restraining the 1st Defendant its members, from calling or directing the halt of crude and Gas supply to the Dangote refinery under any guise and or embarking on any industrial action against the Claimant with a view to crippling, blocking roads or obstructing the flow of vehicular movement, shutting down operations of the Claimant or licensees of the 2nd to 4th Defendants named in the 1st Defendant Directives dated September 26, 2025 or by any means frustrating the businesses/activities of the Claimant/Applicant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on notice.

Mr Ibrahim argued that the Applicant is a petroleum production and or distribution companies licensed to own, operate and produce petroleum and petrochemical products for the general consumption of the Nigerian public, and whose business provides essential services to the Nigerian economy and the general public.

He said that in recent times, there have been incidents of sabotage by some employees of the Claimant at the Claimant’s plant which sprang up issues of grave health concern and safety of human lives.

According to him, the management of the Claimant came to an irresistible conclusion that there should be re-organisation in the plant which led to relieving of some of its staff of their employment and same was communicated to all staff by a memo or circular dated 25th September, 2025.

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The lawyer asserted that by a letter dated September 26, 2025 and circulated online, the 1st Defendant through its General Secretary, Comrade Lamumba Ighotemu Okugbawa wrote to the Hon. Minister of Petroleum, Gas and warned that the 1st Defendant and its members were going to take action that would force the Claimant to its knees if the Claimant fails to recall the affected staff which was described in the said letter as over 800.

In his brief ruling on ex-parte application, Justice Subilim held that the balance of convenience is in favour of the Applicants as the continuation of the strike would irreparably damage its business and cripple to provision of essential services to the Nigerian public.

The Judge held that it was in the interest of justice for the Court to restrain the Respondents to preserve the industrial peace and further aid the continuous provision of essential services to the Nigerian public pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

Justice Subilim while granting the restraining order, directed that same be served on the defendants immediately along with motion on notice.

The judge held that the restraining order shall last for seven days only.
He subsequently fixed October 13 for the hearing of the motion on notice.