A debt dispute has escalated between building extensive Dantata & Sawoe and Zutari Consulting Nigeria Ltd, an engineering consultancy firm. Zutari Consulting Nigeria Ltd is accusing Dantata & Sawoe of refusing to stamp a $1.4 million settlement agreement related to past work on the Dangote Fertilizer Plant in Lekki, Lagos.
The moral fallout stems from an earlier arbitration ruling in London, which realized Dantata & Sawoe accountable for an outstanding payment of over $1.25 million owed to Zutari Consulting for subcontract work on basically the most vital industrial carrying out.
At a Federal High Court sitting on Thursday, Zutari’s prison professional, Chris Ekemezie, immediate Justice G. Umar that despite several efforts and concessions, Dantata & Sawoe had now not fulfilled their cease of the reduce price.
“We even agreed to a 25% waiver good to attend payment and cross on,” Ekemezie talked about. “But they’ve refused to stamp their own proposed phrases of settlement.”
The matter, which has dragged on since 2021, has considered several adjournments and attempts at out-of-court resolution. At one point, a winding-up petition against Dantata & Sawoe modified into as soon as authorised for publication, signaling good how serious the situation had turned into.
The moral crew representing Zutari had requested the court to appoint a provisional liquidator, citing the corporate’s incapacity or unwillingness to pay the arbitral award.
While Dantata’s lawyers admit that payment has now not been made, they argue that the settlement job is indifferent ongoing. Their counsel, Ofem Obeten, confirmed that his client had failed to remit payment sooner than the cease of May maybe possibly well 2025 however insisted that talks had now not damaged down fully.
“We’re indifferent in talks. The agreement modified into as soon as sent straight to Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), who has been representing us,” Obeten famed, also pointing out that the matter is beneath appeal at the Court of Attraction and that the quiz of jurisdiction indifferent stands.
Nonetheless, the presiding settle did now not camouflage his frustration.
“What is your area in making the payment?” he requested pointedly for the duration of the listening to.
Zutari’s counsel countered that earlier objections by Dantata & Sawoe had already been brushed off and accused the corporate of the utilize of prolong methods. “They’ve been indulged time and time all but again,” he talked about. “Now we are searching for the court’s intervention consequently of we are able to’t wait on waiting.”
The settle adjourned the case to July 7, 2025, for additional listening to or report of settlement possibly one of the ultimate windows for the companies to solve the problem with out harsher court-ordered penalties.
What to Know
- The $1.4 million debt stems from engineering consulting work carried out by Zutari on the Dangote Fertilizer Plant.
- The customary award modified into as soon as granted by a tribunal in London in April 2021.
- Dantata & Sawoe has acknowledged the debt however has now not fulfilled payment obligations.
- The court has previously allowed time for settlement, however patience appears to be like to be wearing thin.
