Matrix Energy Limited, an indigenous oil company, has filed two libel suits at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, seeking N20 billion in damages over reports linking the company to the alleged importation of low-grade fuel from Malta to Nigeria.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Abdulkadir Adisa Aliu, along with Matrix Energy Limited, is the plaintiff in the suits, numbered CV/3718/2024 and CV/3719/2024. They described the reports published by two media houses as defamatory and libelous.
In a statement filed by their counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, the plaintiffs are requesting the court to restrain the media houses from publishing further reports deemed libelous. They are also seeking N10 billion in damages from each media outlet and an additional N200 million to cover the cost of filing the suits.
The controversial report titled, “From Russia to Malta: How Matrix Energy Imports Dirty Petrol,” alleged that the company had been importing substandard petroleum products from Malta, a country known for not having any oil refineries.
“The publication is false, malicious, libelous, and defamatory,” the plaintiffs asserted in their court filing. They are asking the court for a declaration to this effect and for an order compelling the defendants to delete the defamatory statements from their platforms.
Additionally, the plaintiffs are seeking an unreserved apology from the media houses and a perpetual injunction preventing further publication of such defamatory content.
“The reports deliberately, carelessly, intentionally, and maliciously portrayed us as conniving with economic enemies of Nigeria to import adulterated, substandard petroleum products into the country,” the plaintiffs stated.
Previously, Matrix Oil Limited had denied any involvement in the importation of substandard fuel from Malta in a statement released by their spokesperson, Ibrahim Akinola.
