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A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory presided over by Justice Yusuf Halilu, has ordered Bulet International Nigeria Ltd, to pay the sum of N79.3million to Lydop Nigeria Ltd, being payment for the supply of iron rods.
Justice Halilu made the order while delivering judgement in a suit marked FCT/HC/CV/278/25, filed by Lydop Nig. Ltd (Claimant), against Bulet Int’l Ltd (Defendant), over non payment of contract sum in the region of N79,388, 040.00million.
Meanwhile, Claimant’s counsel, Ojonimi S. Apeh Esq. has threatened to commence legal processes leading to the liquidation of Bulet International Ltd, if it fails to pay the sum as ordered by the court.
A Certified True Copy (CTC) of the summary judgment dated 2nd October 2026, disclosed that the Defendant was duly served with the originating processes commencing the action as well as the instant Motion on Notice for Summary Judgment.
Justice Halilu had in a judgement on July 7, 2026, held that “Notwithstanding such service, the Defendant neither entered appearance for the purpose of defending this action nor filed a Statement of Defense, Notice of Intention to Defend, Counter-Affidavit, Written Address, or indeed any process whatsoever evincing an intention to contest either the substantive suit or the instant application.
However, the court observed that the Defendant was represented by a counsel on three separate occasions, when the matter came up, particularly on dates fixed for report of settlement.
More so, Justice Halilu hinted that the court had adjourned thrice in the interest of amicable resolution of the dispute.
“On the last of such appearances, counsel for the Defendant informed the Court that the Defendant had already paid the first tranche of the sum and was making efforts towards liquidating the second tranche.
“Counsel consequently appealed to the Court to grant what was described as a final opportunity to enable the Defendant conclude the settlement process.
“Despite the indulgence extended by the Court, the Defendant was absent and unrepresented by counsel on the last adjourned date of 29th April, 2026.
“No explanation was offered for the Defendant’s absence, nor was any process filed seeking a further adjournment, challenging the claims before the Court, or otherwise indicating a willingness to defend the action, Justice Halilu held.
“The Defendant has thus remained supine in the face of the proceedings notwithstanding the opportunities afforded by the Court to regularize its position or amicably resolve the dispute.
The Judge disclosed that the Claimant took out a Writ of Summons against the Defendant seeking payment of the outstanding balance of the executed contract, and equally filed the instant Motion on Notice praying the Court to enter summary judgment in respect of the unpaid contract sum.
“This procedure is not in any way novel to our jurisprudence. It is a fast-track means of obtaining Judgment in respect of unchallenged monetary claims.
“In my humble view, the issue of supply and acceptance of the products has been considerably dwarfed by the documentary exhibits attached to the affidavit in support and more importantly by the part payment admittedly made by the Defendant in the aggregate sum of N11,000,000.00 (Eleven Million Naira).
“Indeed, the Defendant has placed absolutely nothing before this Court upon which the evidence adduced by the Claimant/ Applicant may be weighed against any competing or contradictory set of facts.
“Beyond the representations made through counsel during the Court-assisted settlement efforts, which ultimately came to naught, the Defendant has not deemed it fit to place before the Court any material disclosing a bona fide defence to the Claimant’s claim.
“In particular, the Defendant has neither filed a Statement of Defence, a Notice of Intention to Defend, a Counter-Affidavit in opposition to the instant application, nor a Written Address challenging the legal and factual basis of the reliefs sought.
“There is, therefore, no competing affidavit evidence, pleading or process before this Court capable of raising any triable issue warranting the withholding of judgment and relegating the parties to a plenary trial.
“The Defendant has simply elected to remain silent notwithstanding service of all the relevant processes.
“A Defendant who has no defense to the claims of a Claimant must not attempt to dribble and cheat a Claimant out of Judgment and where he so attempts, the Court shall not allow him score any such goal, even if he were to be a Ronaldo or Messi.
“The Defendant having accepted delivery of the products supplied by the Claimant and having made part payment therefore cannot now be permitted to keep the Claimant out of Judgment in the absence of any disclosed defense.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the Claimant/Applicant is entitled to the payment of the outstanding balance of the contract sum.
“Accordingly, Summary Judgment is hereby entered in favour of the Claimant against the Defendant in the sum of N79,388,040.00 (Seventy Nine Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-Eight Thousand, Forty Naira) being the outstanding balance due and owing to the Claimant arising from the supply of Iron Rods and allied materials.
“The said sum shall attract post-judgment interest at the rate of 10% per annum from the date of this Judgment until final liquidation pursuant to Order 39 Rule 4 of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2025.
Ojonimi S. Apeh Esq. filed the suit on behalf of the Claimant via a Motion on Notice dated 28th January 2025, and filed 29th January 2025.
It was supported by a 28 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by one Peter Okpanachi, a business man and one of the Directors/Chairman of Lydop Nig. Ltd.
Among other depositions, Mr Okpanachi averred that the Claimant had sent well-meaning Nigerians to appeal to the Defendant to pay the Claimant, including but not limited to Ibrahim Lamode, the former EFCC Chairman, Ahmed Isah of Brekete Family Reality Magazine but all efforts proved abortive.
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