Court Orders Release of Vessel Allegedly Detained by Dangote Refinery

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the release of the vessel MT Stena Sunshine, which was allegedly detained unlawfully by Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE. The court’s interim ruling came amid ongoing legal proceedings involving the refinery and two of its officers — Capt. Shivkumar Sherkhane and Rana Satendra.

The lawsuit, filed by the vessel and its owners under suit number FHC/L/CS/639/2025, seeks redress over the March 14, 2025, incident that led to the vessel’s detention.

In his ruling, Justice Akintayo Aluko directed that the vessel be released once the applicants submit a Letter of Undertaking (LoU) from the GARD Protection & Indemnity Club, covering any verified claims by the refinery up to $200,000. However, the court required the total LoU amount to be $300,000, in line with a letter submitted by the applicants dated April 8, 2025.

The court also mandated that the LoU be officially filed before the court but declined to issue an interim injunction that would restrain the Dangote refinery or its agents from alleged acts of harassment, arrest, or further interference pending the hearing of the substantive suit.

The applicants’ motion, filed on March 26, 2025, included multiple requests:

• An injunction against further harassment or detention.

• The release of the MT Stena Sunshine on provision of the LoU.

• Approval for substituted service of legal documents via courier.

While Dangote and the co-respondents opposed the motion with an 11-paragraph affidavit, the court ruled in favor of releasing the vessel, stating that the evidence provided justified the request.

Justice Aluko emphasised that although the request for protection against harassment pertained to the substance of the main case and could not be addressed at this stage, the vessel’s continued detention was unjustifiable under the circumstances.

The case has been adjourned to May 27, 2025, for the hearing of the substantive matter.