The raging brand dispute in Nigeria’s herbal health drink market has taken a dramatic turn, with Cleansimur International Limited filing a massive N200.2 billion counterclaim against Jigsimur Plus Nigeria Limited at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The counterclaim follows an earlier suit by Jigsimur Plus, which is seeking N100.2 billion in damages from Cleansimur over alleged imitation and piracy of its herbal product, Jigsimur Health Drink.
In the suit marked FHC/L/SC/1953/25, Jigsimur Plus claims exclusive rights to market Jigsimur products in Nigeria and accuses Cleansimur of copying and pirating its brand.
However, in a detailed Statement of Defence and Counter-Affidavit, Cleansimur denied the allegations, describing them as false and malicious.
The company accused Jigsimur Plus of brand hijack, counterfeiting and deliberate consumer deception, while demanding N200.2 billion in damages.
‘False and Fabricated Claims’
In an affidavit sworn to by Mr Muoneke Mrchal Oluchukwu, a director of Cleansimur International Limited, the company described all averments in Jigsimur Plus’ motion for interlocutory injunction filed on September 29, 2025, as false, misleading and calculated to deceive the court.
Cleansimur insisted that it never imitated or pirated Jigsimur products and argued that Jigsimur Plus approached the court with unclean hands.
Cleansimur stated that it was duly incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission on March 15, 2023, to engage in the production and distribution of health beverages and general merchandise.
More significantly, the company disclosed that it is lawfully authorised by Jigsimur SA (Pty) Limited, the original creator and owner of both the JIGSIMUR and CLEANSIMUR herbal drink formulas and brands, to register and distribute CLEANSIMUR in Nigeria.
According to court filings, Jigsimur SA (Pty) Limited terminated Jigsimur Plus Nigeria Limited’s distributorship and, by a Power of Attorney dated June 15, 2023, together with an Exclusivity Agreement, appointed Cleansimur International Limited as its sole agent, distributor and exclusive representative in Nigeria.
Cleansimur added that while the parent company is licensed by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), it has secured NAFDAC approval and registered the CLEANSIMUR trademark in Nigeria.
Allegations of Counterfeiting
Tracing the history of the product, Cleansimur explained that the original Jigsimur formula was discovered in the 1980s by Deon Ungerer, who died in 2018.
Production was later handled by his wife, Rouxnel Ungerer, whose 2003 South African trademark registration lapsed in 2020 before being lawfully re-registered in May 2023 and assigned to Jigsimur SA (Pty) Limited.
Cleansimur further alleged that Jigsimur Plus was authorised only between 2018 and 2023 to distribute the 750ml variant of the product but unlawfully introduced a 250ml variant from an unknown source, using the JIGSIMUR name and branding.
The company said this amounted to adulteration and counterfeiting, leading to the termination of Jigsimur Plus’ distributorship on June 1, 2023, for gross misconduct.
Despite the termination, Cleansimur alleged that Jigsimur Plus continued to manufacture and sell fake products using a non-existent South African entity, “JIGSIMUR PLUS HEALTH DRINK SA (PTY) LTD,” while unlawfully exploiting the Jigsimur trademark.
Cleansimur disclosed that Jigsimur SA (Pty) Limited, through its Nigerian solicitors, petitioned NAFDAC over the alleged counterfeiting and use of a non-existent foreign manufacturer.
It further accused Jigsimur Plus of misleading the court by presenting “JIGSIMUR SA ORIGINAL (PTY) LTD” as its manufacturer, a claim Cleansimur said is contradicted by Jigsimur Plus’ own NAFDAC certificate, which bears the name JIGSIMUR PLUS HEALTH DRINK SA (PTY) LTD, an entity it described as non-existent.
According to Cleansimur, Jigsimur Plus allegedly acquired a shelf company and renamed it JIGSIMUR SA ORIGINAL (PTY) LTD to closely mimic the genuine parent company, JIGSIMUR SA (PTY) LTD, in an attempt to sustain public deception.
Cleansimur maintained that CLEANSIMUR is the authentic, rebranded product, manufactured with the original aloe ferox content and licensed directly from Jigsimur SA (Pty) Limited to protect consumers from fake and adulterated products.
The company warned that granting Jigsimur Plus’ injunction would shut down a legitimate NAFDAC-approved product, shield illegal activity, endanger public health and cause irreparable damage to its business and reputation.
Cleansimur accused Jigsimur Plus of defamatory publications, malicious regulatory petitions, financial sabotage and reputational harm, resulting in substantial losses and legal costs.
It is asking the court to declare that Jigsimur Plus’ distributorship was lawfully terminated on June 1, 2023; that Cleansimur International Limited is the exclusive Nigerian agent of Jigsimur SA (Pty) Limited; and that Jigsimur Plus approached the court with unclean hands.
Cleansimur is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Jigsimur Plus from using the names “JIGSIMUR,” “JIGSIMUR PLUS,” or any similar mark, an order restraining further defamatory publications, and a directive compelling regulators to seize and destroy all infringing products.
In monetary terms, Cleansimur is claiming N200,000,000,000 in general damages, N100,000,000 in special damages, and N100,000,000 as cost of the suit.
If you want, I can tighten this further to reduce word count, or make the lead more punchy for online legal news, in line with your usual reporting style.
