Legal Diary News

Abuja, Nigeria | July 27, 2026 Today, the legal profession, the Christian community, and countless admirers across Nigeria join in celebrating an exceptional leader, distinguished legal practitioner, and committed servant of God, Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN, PhD , as he marks another birthday. The occasion is not merely a celebration of age but a tribute to a life distinguished by unwavering integrity, selfless service, visionary leadership, and remarkable contributions to the legal profession, the Church, and national development. Throughout an illustrious career spanning decades, Dr. Ubani has remained a respected voice in the pursuit of justice and the rule of law. His outstanding leadership within the Nigerian Bar Association has earned him widespread admiration. He has served meritoriously as Chairman of the NBA Ikeja Branch , Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association , Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL , and currently serves as Chairman of the NBA Electoral Reform Co...

Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to formally inform all members of our dear association of the landmark judgment delivered by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja Judicial Division, on 10 July 2026 in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/264/2025: Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association v. Police Service Commission & 5 Ors. This public interest action was instituted by the Nigerian Bar Association through the Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) to seek judicial interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of the Police Act, 2020 and the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023, particularly as they relate to the status, functions, and deployment of legal practitioners serving within the Nigeria Police Force. In a well-considered judgment, the Court upheld substantial aspects of the NBA’s claims and made important declarations and consequential orders, including: 1. Declaring that police officers who are legal practitioners b...

The two decisions of the Federal High Court delivered respectively by Justice Mohammed G. Umar and Justice James Kolawole Omotosho are already generating intense constitutional and electoral discourse within legal circles. Both judgments dealt with the legality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s administrative timetable and guidelines issued for the 2027 general elections vis-à-vis the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. Although both courts addressed substantially similar legal questions, they arrived at partially convergent and partially divergent conclusions. This has now sparked debate among senior members of the Bar on whether Justice Omotosho ought to be reprimanded for allegedly delivering a judgment inconsistent with that of Justice Umar. This article examines the two judgments, identifies their points of agreement and disagreement, and evaluates whether the controversy over judicial contradiction is legally sustainable or merely academic se...

The recent  renewed call for a single six-year tenure for Nigeria's President and Governors  has reignited once again an important constitutional debate.  The central argument of proponents like Distinguished Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and his colleagues is straightforward: a Chief Executive who is not seeking re-election will be less distracted by politics and more focused on governance. This proposition has some appeal and merit.  Under the current constitutional arrangement, Presidents and governors  are elected for four years and may seek one additional term. In practice (like what is presently playing out) preparations for re-election often commence well before the expiration of the first term, creating political pressures that can influence policy choices. A single tenure no doubt, could potentially eliminate this concern and encourage long-term policy implementation. However, it is not necessarily about  administrative efficiency alone. Dem...

The Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch (Unity Bar), is set to host an array of distinguished personalities at the Opening Ceremony of its 2026 Law Week, with former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, , confirmed as the Special Guest of Honour. The highly anticipated event is also expected to witness the attendance of the Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Justices of the Court of Appeal, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, as well as several eminent jurists, senior lawyers, public office holders and other notable dignitaries from across the country. In view of the calibre of personalities expected at the event and the accompanying security arrangements, members of the Branch have been advised to be seated at the venue on or before 1:30pm, ahead of the arrival of the former President who is expected to be seated by 1:45pm. According to a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the Branch, Zacchaeus Akubo, ...

The recent decision of the Federal High Court in Fubara Dagogo v. All Progressives Congress (APC) & 3 Ors., Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/591/2026 delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, represents a significant development in Nigeria’s pre-election jurisprudence. In that case, the court struck out the suit challenging the APC National Congress and proceeded to award punitive costs of ₦10 million each against the plaintiff, Mr. Fubara Dagogo, and his counsel, Chief Sir O.A.U. Onyema, for what the court considered a frivolous and non-justiciable action. The court held that the dispute arose purely from the internal congress and nomination processes of the political party and therefore fell outside the jurisdiction of the court by virtue of Section 83(5) of the Electoral Act 2026.  Justice Abdulmalik maintained that there was no allegation or proof of any breach of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, or the party’s constitution and guidelines capable of warranting judicial inte...