Business
Court dismisses NNPCL’s objection to Dangote Refinery’s suit on import licence
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the objection raised by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) against the competence of a suit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE (Dangote Refinery).
Dangote is seeking to void the licences issued by the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to some oil marketing companies to import refined petroleum products.
In its objection, the NNPCL challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit and urged the court to strike out its name from the suit on the grounds that it was not properly identified by the plaintiff.
It argued that the name, “Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited,” being its registered name with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), is not the one and the same entity the second defendant sued but the “Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation”.
Ruling yesterday, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that NNPCL’s objection was incompetent as it was filed in violation of Order 29 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules (FHCCPR), 2019.
Justice Ekwo also held that the NNPCL ought to have filed a defence in the form of a counter-affidavit to the plaintiff’s suit before raising an objection.
The judge averred that under the procedure in lieu of demurrer, any party is entitled to raise, by his pleading, any point of law, and that any point so raised may be disposed of by the trial court at trial or after the trial.
He explained that where a defendant seeks to challenge the jurisdiction of the court, it is the provision of Order 29 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules (FHCCPR), 2019, that would be applicable.Justice Ekwo added that the NNPCL failed to comply with the provision.
The judge held that the NNPCL, having not complied with the provisions of the FHCCPR 2019 could not be said to have filed a competent preliminary objection.
BLACK/ PARALLEL MARKET RATES
₦1370 DOLLAR (USD)
₦1800 POUND (GBP)
₦1510 EURO (EUR)
₦970 CANADIAN DOLLAR (CAD)
₦65 SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR)
₦350 UAE DIRHAM (AED)
₦190 CHINESE YUAN (CNY)
₦100 GHANAIAN CEDI (GHS)
₦2300 WEST AFRICAN CFA F.(XOF)
₦2200 CENTRAL AFRICAN CFA F.(XAF)
₦850 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR AUSSIE (AUD)
CBN OFFICIAL RATES
DOLLAR (USD)₦1331.61
POUND (GBP)₦1764.26
EURO (EUR)₦1490.48
SWISS FRANC (CHF)₦1608.23
JAPANESE YEN (JPN)₦8.4
CFA FRANC (XOF)₦2.27
WEST AFRICAN UNIT OF ACCOUNT (WAUA)₦1802.33
CHINESE YUAN (CNY)₦199.01
SAUDI RIYAL (SAR)₦354.83
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR)₦80.49
Business
WEF could appoint Lagarde as its next chair, sources say
The WEF’s Board of Trustees, which includes Lagarde herself, was due to meet on November 2 and could elect her as its next chair, said the people close to the organisation, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
•European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde
The World Economic Forum could appoint Christine Lagarde as its next chair as soon as next month, four people close to the organisation told Reuters, meaning she would step down early as European Central Bank chief and trigger a wider reshuffle at the top of the ECB.Lagarde’s ECB term is scheduled to end in October 2027.
Leaving early would give European Union leaders a chance to pick a new ECB President before France’s spring presidential election, which opinion polls suggest the far-right could win, and could pave the way for a deal involving two other senior ECB roles.
The WEF’s Board of Trustees, which includes Lagarde herself, was due to meet on November 2 and could elect her as its next chair, said the people close to the organisation, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
No final decision has been taken yet, they said.
A spokesperson for the WEF said the forum could not confirm when the next full Board of Trustees meeting would take place, but that the aim was to hold one before the end of the year.
Business
Germany plans tax on sugary drinks
The tax is expected to generate additional revenue for the federal government of €690 million in 2027 and €925 million in 2028.
The German cabinet has approved draft legislation to tax sugary drinks in Europe’s biggest economy.
If passed by the German Bundestag, the tax will take effect on 1 July 2027.
The coalition aims to raise revenue for the federal budget while encouraging manufacturers to reduce sugar content and offer healthier products.
The levy is intended to ease pressure on the healthcare system, which faces costs of more than €2 billion every year linked to the high consumption of sugary drinks, which contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.
According to the federal government, Berlin is using the tax to implement “what associations from the fields of health, science, child protection, and consumer protection have long been demanding.”
The tax is expected to generate additional revenue for the federal government of €690 million in 2027 and €925 million in 2028.
JUST IN: Mob Sets BRT Bus Ablaze After Motorcyclist’s Death in Lagos
BREAKING: DSS Arrests Fugitive Maina Son, Hands Him to EFCC
BREAKING: 5 Arrested Over Imo NYSC Abduction
BREAKING: Lagos Govt Declares Today, Thursday Work-Free to Mark 2026 Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day
Tech Expert, Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions, Adesanya, Alexander
Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu bags 10 years in UK prison
-
Business2 days agoNAFDAC scolds fake manufacturers: “You are killing Nigerians in order to make money”
-
Business2 days agoOyedele Chairs G-24 Call for Fairer Global Financial System, Affordable Development Financing
-
Business2 days agoNaira Exchange Rates For Thursday, October 15
-
Business3 days agoBREAKING: Shell to Exit Nigeria’s Domestic Gas Distribution Business
-
Politics2 days agoExclusion of candidates from INEC list: CD cautions INEC against manipulation by politicians
-
Sports2 days agoCAF Increases Annual Funding for Member Federations to $700,000
-
Business1 day agoGermany plans tax on sugary drinks
-
News2 days agoSanwo-Olu Appoints Olatunbosun Ogunbanwo, 5 Others as Perm Secs