Nigeria: Contracts and Commercial Law

SPDC had lawfully terminated a contract with a contractor who had significantly misrepresented their technical expertise and capability to fulfill the agreement.

The Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023 establishes a carefully balanced framework for challenging arbitral awards in Nigeria, providing exhaustive statutory grounds while preserving the finality principle central to arbitration. This analysis examines the six specific grounds upon which courts may set aside awards, the strict three-month limitation period for applications, and the innovative procedural mechanism allowing tribunals to cure defects before judicial annulment.

Many people assume that once a court delivers judgment in their favour, the dispute is over and payment or compliance will automatically follow. In reality, that is often not the case.