The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has restrained the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from carrying out its planned industrial action against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.

Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim, in a ruling on an ex-parte application filed by Dangote Refinery on Monday, specifically barred the defendants which include the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission from halting crude oil and gas supply to the refinery.

The application was argued by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), George Ibrahim, from the law firm of Ogwu James Onoja & Co., who told the court that the refinery, being a licensed petroleum and petrochemical company, provides essential services critical to Nigeria’s economy and the general public.

In his brief ruling, Justice Subilim held that the balance of convenience was in favour of the applicant, stressing that allowing the strike to proceed could cause irreparable damage to Dangote Refinery’s operations and cripple the provision of essential services to Nigerians.

The judge granted the interim restraining order for seven days and directed that it be served on all defendants along with the motion on notice.

The matter was adjourned to October 13 for hearing of the motion on notice.