The Federal High Court in Abuja has appointed a liquidator to oversee the winding up of Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Limited following its failure to pay a $1.4 million debt owed to Zutari Consulting Nigeria Ltd.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on Wednesday, granted Zutari Consulting’s application for the appointment of a liquidator after finding that Dantata & Sawoe had been given sufficient time to settle the debt but continued to present excuses.
The debt arose from a settlement agreement over a $1,257,592.83 claim related to subcontract design work executed by Zutari Consulting on the Dangote Fertilizer Plant project in Lekki, Lagos.
Zutari’s counsel, Mr. Chris Ekemezie, told the court that an arbitration conducted in London under the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ruled in his client’s favour on April 7, 2021.
The arbitral tribunal found Dantata & Sawoe liable for the unpaid sums, which also included ZAR 2,136,623.39 and £4,364.38.
Despite multiple adjournments and a 30-day grace period granted in September 2024 for settlement, Dantata & Sawoe allegedly failed to pay, offering instead to remit only 75 per cent of the total amount, a proposal Zutari rejected.
Justice Umar, noting the company’s “unwillingness to honour its financial obligations,” appointed Joseph Abiolu, FCA, as liquidator in line with Sections 571(d), 572, and 573(1)(b) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.
The case has been adjourned until February 18, 2026, for the liquidator’s report.
