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By Correspondent in Abuja.
(C) Google.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has appointed a liquidator to wind up Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Limited over its failure to settle a $1.4 million project debt owed to Zutari Consulting Nigeria Ltd.
The debt arose from a settlement agreement reached after an alleged $1,257,592.83 liability incurred for subcontract design work executed by Zutari Consulting on the Dangote Fertilizer Plant project in Lekki, Lagos.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar granted Zutari Consulting’s application for the appointment of a liquidator, noting that Dantata & Sawoe had been given several opportunities to pay the debt but repeatedly returned with excuses.
This follows the earlier approval for the publication of a winding-up petition in two national newspapers.
The noted that Zutari Consulting, an engineering design and supervision firm, was engaged by Dantata & Sawoe in 2015 to undertake design components of the company’s subcontract work on the Lekki project.
The Reporters recalls that the matter was referred to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in London for arbitration following disputes over unpaid fees.
The tribunal, on April 7, 2021, issued a final award holding Dantata & Sawoe liable for the outstanding payments, including “$1,257,592.83, ZAR 2,136,623.39, and £4,364.38.”
Despite ongoing settlement negotiations, Dantata & Sawoe filed a preliminary objection in May 2023, asking the court to strike out the petition on grounds of jurisdiction and noting that an appeal had been lodged.
At Wednesday’s hearing, the counsel to the petitioner, Chris Ekemezie, informed the court that the respondent had failed to fully repay the debt, adding that the 75 per cent settlement proposal offered by Dantata & Sawoe fell short of his client’s entitlements.
The Counsel to the respondent, I.I. Okim, confirmed that the company had offered the 75 per cent payment, noting that the money was rejected.
Justice Umar observed that the matter had been adjourned three times to allow the respondent to settle the debt, yet the company provided no satisfactory progress.
He ruled that Dantata & Sawoe had demonstrated unwillingness to meet its obligations.
The court, therefore, appointed Joseph Abiolu, FCA, as liquidator to wind up the company in line with Sections 571(d), 572, and 573(1)(b) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, which provide the legal framework for court-ordered winding up.
Justice Umar thereafter adjourned the case to February 18, 2026, for the liquidator’s report.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
