Matrix Energy Limited, an indigenous oil company, has filed lawsuits at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, seeking N20 billion in damages over reports alleging its involvement in importing substandard fuel from Malta to Nigeria.
The company and its CEO, Alhaji Abdulkadir Adisa Aliu, are the plaintiffs in the cases numbered CV/3718/2024 and CV/3719/2024.
They argue that the reports published by two media outlets are libelous.
Represented by their counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, the plaintiffs are requesting the court to issue an order preventing the media houses from further publishing defamatory content against them.
They are demanding N10 billion each in damages from the two media outlets, along with an additional N200 million to cover legal costs.
In the case numbered CV/3718/2024, the plaintiffs contest a report titled “From Russia to Malta: How Matrix Energy Imports Dirty Petrol,” which alleges that the company has been importing low-quality petroleum products from Malta, a country without known oil refineries.
Denying these claims, the plaintiffs seek a court declaration that the publications dated August 17, 2024, are false, malicious, and defamatory. They are also asking the court to compel the defendants to delete the defamatory content and issue a complete retraction.
Furthermore, the plaintiffs request an unreserved public apology from the defendants. In addition to the N10 billion in damages, they are asking for a perpetual injunction to prevent the defendants from publishing any further defamatory material about them.
The plaintiffs argue that the defendants’ reports were “deliberately, carelessly, intentionally, and maliciously” crafted to portray them as colluding with Nigeria’s economic adversaries to import adulterated, substandard petroleum products into the country.
It should be noted that Matrix Oil Limited previously denied any involvement in importing fuel from Malta in a statement by its spokesperson, Ibrahim Akinola.
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