Frutta Juice faces winding-up petition over $53,026 debt

The Federal High Court in Lagos has granted Saudi Modern Packaging Factory Co. Ltd permission to advertise a winding-up petition against Frutta Juice & Services Limited. The petition concerns an alleged debt of $53,026.

Justice Musa Kakaki ruled that the petition disclosed a prima facie case involving an “undisputed debt.” While the court allowed the advertisement to notify creditors and contributories, the order is procedural and does not constitute the actual winding up of the company. Frutta Juice has not denied the existence of the debt but has attributed the payment delay to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the depreciation of the naira against the US dollar.

The company maintains it has the financial capacity to settle the amount. Frutta Juice has since challenged the ruling at the Court of Appeal, seeking to set aside the decision or stay its implementation. The substantive hearing for the petition is scheduled for November 24, 2026.