Alleged $53,026 debt: Court to hear winding-up petition against Frutta Juice
Federal High Court to Hear Winding-Up Petition Against Frutta Juice and Services Limited
LAGOS – A winding-up petition has been scheduled for hearing against Frutta Juice and Services Limited regarding an alleged debt of $53,026.26. The petition was filed by Saudi Modern Packaging Factory Co. Ltd., claiming that Frutta Juice has failed to meet its obligations despite repeated demands.
The petition is associated with case number FHC/L/CP/802/2023, which was initiated in April 2023. Judge Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court granted Saudi Modern Packaging leave to advertise the petition on July 24, 2026.
On August 13, 2026, the petition appeared in national newspapers, notifying creditors and contributors of Frutta Juice about the proceedings and inviting them to participate in the hearing, set for November 24, 2026.
Frutta Juice contested the petition but did not dispute the existence of the alleged debt. In its response, the company attributed its payment delays to economic challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and the depreciation of the naira against the U.S. dollar. Frutta Juice asserted its financial capacity to resolve the debt.
The petitioner was represented by O.T. Opara, while lawyer Iluad Adams appeared for Frutta Juice. Justice Kakaki ruled that the issues raised by Frutta Juice would be addressed at the substantive hearing. He noted that although the company’s operational documents indicated ongoing business activity, they did not adequately counter the claim of outstanding payment.
The court concluded that the petitioner had established a prima facie case based on the undisputed debt and allowed for the winding-up petition to be advertised in both the Federal Government Official Gazette and two national dailies. The court also ordered the petitioner to submit an affidavit confirming compliance with the publication requirement.
The matter is now set for further hearing in November.
