Nigeria: Criminal Law

1.1 The decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in EMTS Ltd v Afdin Ventures Ltd & Ors.,2 signifies a further consolidation of Nigeria’s pro-arbitration jurisprudence within the global framework of international commercial arbitration. The judgment prioritized the efficacy of achieving finality in arbitration proceedings over technical procedural requirements and addressed issues relating to the enforceability of arbitral awards against non-signatories, allegations of fraud in arbitration, judicial intervention in arbitral awards and the need for expeditious determination of arbitration related litigation.

Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigerian Copyright Commission have formed a strategic partnership to tackle the growing intersection between organised crime, drug trafficking, and intellectual property violations. This collaboration marks a significant shift in recognising copyright piracy as part of broader criminal networks threatening Nigeria's creative economy.

The word ‘absentia’ is a Latin term meaning ‘absence’. Trial in absentia occurs when a defendant is tried in his/her absence. This practice developed from the need to ensure justice and remedy the plague of absconding defendants, a trend that frustrated the judicial process.

Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigerian Copyright Commission have formed a strategic partnership to tackle the growing intersection between organised crime, drug trafficking, and intellectual property violations. This collaboration marks a significant shift in recognising copyright piracy as part of broader criminal networks threatening Nigeria's creative economy.

Fraud has evolved beyond traditional boundaries, leveraging digital finance and global commerce to enable sophisticated cross-border crimes that can be executed remotely in minutes. Modern fraudsters exploit technological advances and interconnected financial systems to move stolen funds across jurisdictions with unprecedented speed and anonymity.

The Supreme Court's decision in Maryam Sanda v C.O.P has sparked renewed debate over a critical constitutional question: can the executive exercise its prerogative of mercy while a convict's appeal remains pending before the courts? This ancient power, preserved in Nigeria's Constitution as a humane corrective to the criminal justice system, now stands at the intersection of executive authority and judicial process. The case raises fundamental questions about the separation of powers and the proper timing o