Court Restrains NUPENG, Petroleum Truck Drivers from Dangote Refinery

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim of the National Industrial Court in Abuja has restrained the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA) from disrupting activities of Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

In a ruling on an ex-parte motion on Wednesday, the judge held that the restraining order, valid for seven days, is to remain in effect pending the hearing of a motion on notice.

Dangote Refinery had asked the court through its counsel, Mr George Ibrahim (SAN) to stop the unions from obstructing public roads or disrupting its operations because their actions could cause an irreparable damage.

It also begged the court to compel the drivers to continue petroleum trucking services to the refinery, MRS, and the Nigerian public pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The company argued that the unions’ actions contravened Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association, and Section 12(4) of the Trade Union Act, maintaining that the court had jurisdiction to intervene in the dispute.

In the supporting affidavit, the refinery pledged to pay damages if the injunction is later deemed unjustified.

The court found that the balance of convenience favoured the refinery and that a serious issue was at stake, directing that the unions be served within the week and ordered the case file transferred to the court president for reassignment, as the vacation jurisdiction ends on September 23.

Dangote Refinery and the unions have been at loggerheads in the past few days, with the federal government intervening in the matter.