By TINA TOLUTOPE THE leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has formally approached the Court of Appeal to challenge his conviction and life sentence for terrorism-related offences handed down by the Federal High Court in Abuja. Kanu, who is currently serving his sentence at the National Correctional Centre in Sokoto, […]
Why the Distinction Matters in Law THE concepts of human rights and fundamental rights are central to modern legal systems, yet they are frequently misunderstood or conflated. While both aim to protect human dignity and freedom, constitutional development has drawn a clear legal distinction between the two. This distinction affects how rights are recognised, who […]
Digital Breakups and an Emerging Legal Risk IN the age of social media, romantic relationships increasingly leave behind a permanent digital footprint. Photographs once shared affectionately on Instagram, Facebook, or WhatsApp often remain long after relationships dissolve. What many users fail to realise, however, is that these lingering images can expose them to significant legal […]
Maintaining the Status Quo in Pending Cases IN Nigerian courts, the Latin legal maxim Lites Pendente Nihil Innovetur, meaning “During the pendency of a suit, nothing should be changed,” remains a cornerstone of procedural law. Grounded in the doctrine of lis pendens, this principle dictates that once a legal dispute is filed before a competent […]
By STELLA JUSTICE NNENNAYA THE LEGAL MEANING OF STATE OF ORIGIN IN MARRIAGE Clarifying a Common Misconception ACROSS Nigeria, confusion persists over whether a woman’s state of origin changes after marriage. In official forms, employment processes, political appointments, and public service documentation, married women are often pressured to claim their husband’s state as theirs. However, under […]
Background: A One-Week Shutdown and a Legal Debate THE decision by Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, to shut down the Onitsha Main Market for one week has reignited a long-running national debate over the limits of executive power in Nigeria’s federal system. The closure followed continued observance of Monday sit-at-home actions by traders, a […]
NIC Escalates Legal Pressure Over FCT Strike THE National Industrial Court has escalated legal pressure on striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and their union leaders, warning that continued defiance of a court order restraining industrial action could result in imprisonment. The warning was issued through a Form 48 notice dated 29 January, […]
Defence Pushes Back Against Narrative of Absolute Power AT the heart of the corruption trial of former Nigerian petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is a dispute over power: whether she controlled Nigeria’s oil sector or merely endorsed decisions made by others. Her defence team insists the latter is true. Speaking before jurors at Southwark Crown Court, […]
The Legal Myth of Parental Ownership THE belief that children “belong” to their parents remains deeply ingrained in many societies. However, modern legal systems have firmly rejected this notion. In law, parenthood confers responsibility, not ownership. This distinction explains why courts may lawfully intervene in family affairs involving children. This framework is rooted in the […]
Indigenous Contractors’ Debt Sparks Legal and Economic Alarm HUNDREDS of lawyers on Thursday converged on the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja to protest what they described as discriminatory handling of payments owed to indigenous contractors for completed federal projects. The protest, involving about 500 legal practitioners, was organised by the Concerned Lawyers for Probity […]