Nigeria: Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration

One of the challenges encountered while trying to enforce monetary judgments in Nigeria by way of garnishee proceedings is that often, garnishee banks feel obligated to stonewall the judgment enforcement process by asserting certain rights or interests over judgment sums standing in the credit of judgment debtors in their custody.

The second quarter of 2026 produced landmark judgments and significant regulatory developments in dispute resolution across Nigeria and internationally. This edition covers key court decisions from the Supreme Court, Federal High Court, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Double allocation or double grant of land is a conundrum that has, unfortunately, come to stay in Nigeria. It arises where the Governor of a State or the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory advertently or inadvertently grants right of occupancy to two different persons, whether natural or body corporate, over the same parcel of land.

The Court of Appeal's decision in Rothmans of Pall Mall v. Kasmal International Services Ltd. addresses a fundamental question of procedural fairness: what happens when a trial court enters judgment without properly notifying the defendant of hearing dates?

Navigating debt recovery in Nigeria demands sophisticated knowledge of local commercial realities and an evolving statutory landscape. This guide examines the regulatory framework, procedural pathways, enforcement mechanisms, and the critical impact of insolvency proceedings on creditor rights and recovery strategies.

Aviation disputes in Nigeria present unique challenges as aircraft can leave the jurisdiction within hours, potentially evading judgment and frustrating creditors. This examination of Nigeria's legal framework for aviation claims analyzes constitutional provisions, statutes, case law, and international conventions to clarify jurisdictional rules, aircraft detention procedures, and the distinction between genuine aviation claims and standard commercial disputes.

This paper examines emerging arbitration and dispute trends in the gas sector, the enforcement challenges faced when striving to enforce arbitral awards against state entities and national oil companies, and lessons from landmark international cases.

International Arbitration Comparative Guide for the jurisdiction of Nigeria, check out our comparative guides section to compare across multiple countries

The principle of sovereign immunity has its roots in the common law adage that the king can do no wrong.

One of the challenges encountered while trying to enforce monetary judgments in Nigeria by way of garnishee proceedings is that often, garnishee banks feel obligated to stonewall the judgment enforcement process by asserting certain rights or interests over judgment sums standing in the credit of judgment debtors in their custody.

The Court of Appeal's decision in Rothmans of Pall Mall v. Kasmal International Services Ltd. addresses a fundamental question of procedural fairness: what happens when a trial court enters judgment without properly notifying the defendant of hearing dates?

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