Nigeria: Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria's Federal Government challenging petroleum import licences issued by the regulatory authority, claiming they violate court orders and undermine domestic refining capacity. With the refinery supplying over 81% of national fuel demand in early 2026, this legal battle raises critical questions about Nigeria's path to energy independence and the balance between supporting local production and maintaining competitive fuel markets. The outcome cou

The age-old legal maxim: interesse rei publicae ut sit finis litium, meaning “it is in the public interest that there be an end to litigation,” does not always reflect the post-judgment reality in Nigeria.

When a company enters receivership, control typically shifts to the receiver—but what happens when the very basis of that control is challenged?

Nigerian courts face a growing challenge as AI-generated evidence—screenshots, audio, video, and documents—enters legal proceedings without clear statutory guidance. While the Evidence Act 2011 (amended 2023) governs electronic evidence, it predates generative AI and leaves critical questions about authenticity, reliability, and admissibility of AI-generated content unresolved. Can Nigeria's existing legal framework adequately address deepfakes, synthetic media, and machine-learning outputs in j

For many litigants in Nigeria, obtaining a court judgment represents years of legal battles, yet the real challenge often begins afterward: recovering the judgment debt when debtors employ sophisticated...

The Nigerian maritime sector operates under a sophisticated legal framework that grants the Federal High Court exclusive jurisdiction over admiralty matters. Understanding the power of in rem actions and the grounds for vessel arrest is essential for navigating cross-border maritime disputes and securing rapid relief in this jurisdiction.

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.

The age-old legal maxim: interesse rei publicae ut sit finis litium, meaning “it is in the public interest that there be an end to litigation,” does not always reflect the post-judgment reality in Nigeria.

As globalization expands commercial footprints across borders, securing a favorable verdict in a UK or US court is often only half the battle. For multinational corporations, financial institutions, and international judgment creditors, the ultimate success of litigation depends on asset recovery. When a judgment debtor's assets are located within Nigeria, creditors must navigate the intricate framework of the Nigerian judicial system to achieve enforcement.

The age of automated decision-making ("ADM") has arrived in Nigeria. Banks and fintech platforms deploy credit-scoring models to determine lending outcomes, and public institutions increasingly rely on data-driven systems in the exercise of statutory functions.