Legal Diary News

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...

The statement by that “Do not be a lawyer who charges so low that your clients do not understand the value of the profession” is not merely a comment about legal fees; it is a profound reminder about the dignity, value, and integrity of legal practice. Law is a noble profession built on years of rigorous academic training, discipline, sacrifice, and continuous learning. Every lawyer invests enormous time, resources, and mental energy in acquiring the knowledge and skills required to represent clients effectively. Beyond the years spent in universities and the Nigerian Law School, legal practitioners daily bear the burden of advocacy, research, drafting, negotiations, court appearances, and the responsibility of protecting the rights and interests of clients. Unfortunately, the increasing trend of underpricing legal services has continued to diminish the perceived value of the profession. When lawyers charge excessively low fees merely to attract clients, it sends a dan...