TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT—Federal High Court Abuja Stops Mamuda Beverages from Further Producing its Pop Power Energy Drink in Its Present Bottle Design

 TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT—Federal High Court Abuja Stops Mamuda Beverages from Further Producing its Pop Power Energy Drink in Its Present Bottle Design

In keeping with a clear understanding of conducting business within the confines of the rules, the  Federal High Court in Abuja has again ordered Mamuda Beverages Nigeria Limited (“Mamuda”) to stop producing its Pop Power Energy Drink, which infringes on the trademark of the popular Fearless Energy Drink brand of Rite Foods Limited.

This rulings on Mamuda’s Notice of Preliminary Objection and Rite Foods’ Motion for interlocutory injunction were delivered by Hon. Justice B.F.M. Nyako, on Friday, 22nd May 2026, in the Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/705/2025. At the proceeding of the day, Mamuda’s Notice of Preliminary Objection was refused and dismissed, while Rite Foods' application for injunctive reliefs prohibiting Mamuda from further trademark infringement was granted.

In the court’s ruling, Hon. Justice Nyako refused Mamuda’s Notice of Preliminary Objection which had challenged the suit on the basis of abuse of court process and held that Rite Foods' present complaint of infringement of its intellectual property is distinct from an earlier suit between the parties, wherein Rite Foods had complained about a different act of infringement.

The court further held that it appears on its face that Mamuda’s newly introduced bottle design, manufactured, still bears a striking resemblance to Rite Foods’ established Fearless Energy Drink product. Therefore, the court granted an order restraining Mamuda from further production of its Pop Power Energy Drink product, pending the final determination of the suit.

Accordingly, the court ordered Mamuda to cease production of the product forthwith, destroy all existing products, and directed the court Bailiff, in conjunction with the parties, to undertake an inventory of the products slated for destruction and file the same.

The court further ordered that the injunction shall remain in force until the end of the year or pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Consequently, the court adjourned the suit to Wednesday, 23rd September 2026, for the hearing of the substantive suit.

This order follows an earlier suit against Mamuda in January 2025, where Rite Foods sued the company for infringing on the trademark and design of its iconic Fearless Energy Drink through the launch of a lookalike product, Pop Power Energy Drink.

However, Mamuda, in an apparent admittance of guilt, sought a settlement, and terms of settlement were agreed and filed, and the court entered same as its consent judgment. Some of the terms of settlement included that Mamuda would desist from further violation of Fearless Energy Drink trademark and identity pass-off. It also agreed to destroy all infringing products and pledged to change its design and avoid any form of identity imitation.

In an unexpected turn, Mamuda subsequently reintroduced Pop Power into the market, with only cosmetic adjustments to its appearance. Rite Foods maintains that these changes are minor and do little to address the original issues of consumer confusion. Reports from the market indicate that the new Pop Power continues to be informally referred to as "small Fearless," reinforcing concerns that the revised product may not only breach the spirit of the earlier agreement but could also undermine consumer clarity and brand differentiation.

While reaffirming its position, Rite Foods stressed its continued commitment to protecting its brand and the principles of innovation and fair competition in Nigeria’s marketplace.

The company emphasized that genuine business growth must be anchored on originality and respect for intellectual property, rather than imitation and fraudulent business practices.