The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, has appointed a liquidator to wind up Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Limited following its failure to settle a project debt exceeding $1.4 million owed to Zutari Consulting Nigeria Limited.
Justice Mohammed Umar, delivering the ruling on Wednesday, held that the respondent had been afforded ample opportunity to discharge its obligations under a settlement agreement but consistently failed to do so, offering repeated excuses instead of compliance.
The debt arose from subcontract works executed by Zutari Consulting on the Dangote Fertilizer Plant project in Lekki, Lagos State.
Arbitration proceedings were conducted under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in London, culminating in a final arbitral award on 7 April 2021, which found Dantata & Sawoe liable for the debt.
The sums adjudged included $1,257,592.83, ZAR 2,136,623.39, and £4,364.38.
In September 2024, the court granted a 30‑day extension for settlement and adjourned the matter several times to accommodate negotiations.
A winding‑up petition advertisement was subsequently published in two national dailies, in line with statutory requirements.
Counsel to the petitioner, Chris Ekemezie, argued that the respondent’s proposal to pay only 75% of the debt was inadequate and inconsistent with the arbitral award.
Counsel to the respondent, I. I. Okim, maintained that the offer was reasonable, but the petitioner rejected it.
Justice Umar observed that despite multiple adjournments, the respondent remained unwilling to settle the debt. Consequently, the court granted the petitioner’s motion and appointed Joseph Abiolu as liquidator to oversee the winding up of Dantata & Sawoe.
The judge anchored his decision on Sections 571(d), 572, and 573(1)(b) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, which empower the court to order liquidation where a company is unable or unwilling to pay its debts.
The matter was adjourned to 18 February 2026 for the liquidator’s report.
