Dangote Refinery Sued Over Alleged Illegal Detention Of Vessel

Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE has been dragged before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over alleged illegal detention of a vessel.

The indigenous petroleum firm, is been tried before the court on the alleged infraction alongside Capt. Shivkumar Sherkhane and Rana Satendra.

Applicants in the suit in suit numbered FHC/L/CS/639/2025, are: the Vessel, “Stena Sunshine“ and owners of the MT “Stena Sunshine”.

Justice Akintayo Aluko, had made an interim order directing Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE, to release the MT Stena Sunshine from any detention and/or arrest on the delivery of a GARD Protection & Indemnity Club’s Letter of Undertaking (LoU) securing any verifiable claim the 1st respondent may have up to the sum of $200, 000.00 USD, (Two hundred thousand United States Dollars) is hereby granted.

The court also ordered “that the LOU shall be in the sum of $300, 000 USD, as shown in the applicants’ letter of undertaking dated April 8, 2025.

The court further ordered the applicants, Vessel, “Stena Sunshine“ and owners of the MT “Stena Sunshine”, to formally file a letter of undertaking before the Court.

Justice Aluko however, refused the applicants’ prayer seeking to restrain Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE, Staff and others, their personnel, servants, agents or anyone acting or purporting to act for or on their behalf from harassing, arresting, detaining, intimidating and/or threatening to arrest and/or detain the applicants or taking any step that would threaten and/or jeopardise the enjoyment of the Applicants fundamental rights to personal freedom and liberty and to own and operate property without let or hindrance over an incident which occurred on March 14, 2025.

Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to May 27, for hearing of substantive suit.

In the suit, the applicants in their application dated March 26, 2025, have asked the court for the following reliefs among others: “an order of interim injunction restraining the Respondents by themselves, Staff, personnel, their servants, agents or anyone acting or purporting to act for or on their behalf from harassing, arresting, detaining, intimidating and/or threatening to arrest and/or detain the Applicants or taking any step that would threaten and/or jeopardise the enjoyment of the Applicants fundamental rights to personal freedom and liberty and to own and operate property without let or hindrance over an incident which occurred on 14/03/2025.

“An interim order of this honourable court releasing the MT Stena Sunshine, from any detention and/or arrest by the Respondents on the delivery of a GARD Protection & Indemnity Club’s Letter of Undertaking (LoU) securing any verifiable claim the 1st Respondent may have up to the sum of $200, 000.00 USD (Two hundred thousand United States Dollars).

“An order for substituted service of all the court processes in this matter (including the Originating Motion and/or any order made by this honourable court) respondents by serving same by courier (FedEX or DHL) c/o the Respondent’s Chief Operation Officer.”

The applicants listed 19 grounds, affidavit of 14 paragraphs, in urging the court to grant their reliefs.

However, Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE and other respondents joined issued with the applicants by filling 11 paragraphs affidavit to show cause.

Ruling on the application, Justice Aluko after perused through all the processes and exhibits filed by the parties, the plethora of authorites cited by their respective counsel held that” “there is merit in the application. While relief one cannot granted at this stage because it touches on relief (e) in the substantive suit, relief 2 is grantable on the strength of the evidence before the court.

“Accordingly, it is hereby ordered as follows: “that relief one is refused. That relief two is hereby granted. That the LOU shall be in the sum of $300, 000 USD, as shown in the applicants’ letter of Undertaking dated April 8, 2025. That the letter of Undertaking shall be formally filed before the court.”