The Appeal of Finality — And Its Hidden Cost STATUTORY marriage offers what customary unions sometimes struggle with: certainty, portability, and legal authority without family arbitration. Adults can marry without extended approvals. The certificate speaks for itself globally. But that finality has a cost: it is far easier to enter than exit. The Legal Cage: […]
A Regulatory Deadline Disguised as Routine ACROSS Nigeria’s small business ecosystem, one compliance requirement continues to ambush entrepreneurs long after registration: the filing of Annual Returns with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Many business owners treat it like paperwork for another day — until that day arrives and their business legitimacy is in question. CAC […]
From Dispersed Clans to a United Polity THE story of the Egbà Kingdom is often told through folklore of refuge and resilience. Yet beyond the symbolism of sanctuary lies a more deliberate political revolution rarely examined with critical depth: the calculated restructuring of a fractured people into a single functioning state. The Egbà, a subgroup […]
By DEBORAH OCHEJA The Constitutional Backing THE right to observe Nigerian court proceedings stems from the constitutional doctrine of open justice. Except where the law expressly restricts it, hearings are public events, accessible to citizens who wish to learn, monitor, or research judicial processes. This is the legal basis that allows journalists, law students, governance analysts, […]
By DAVID JOHN-FLUKE The Reform Agenda Nigeria Has Always Needed A Sector Interrupted, Not Irrelevant NIGERIA’S automotive industry is confronting a transition moment as disruptive as independence itself — but this time, the battle is industrial, not territorial. With global mobility rapidly pivoting toward EVs, CNG and low-carbon systems, Nigeria is scrambling to avoid becoming […]
By OBIOMA TORI AfCFTA as Nigeria’s Economic Re-Orientation NIGERIA did not enter the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by accident or political impulse. Its accession followed a deliberate pause, stakeholder consultations, and a late-stage review of national interests. After initially suspending the process, Nigeria eventually ratified the pact on 4 November 2020 and deposited […]
By OBIOMA TORI Liquidity Surge Meets Regulatory Pressure An Economy Awash with Capital NIGERIA’S financial system is not suffering from a lack of liquidity. If anything, it has too much. Institutional investors, pension administrators, private equity players, and foreign portfolio funds are holding capital reserves seeking entry points into regulated, high-yield sectors. Recapitalisation has opened […]
By JULIET EKANEM Can Cross River Still Call Itself Nigeria’s Tourism Capital? By 2025, the claim rings hollow.FOR nearly a decade after Nigeria’s democratic return, Cross River State stood as a national case study for how tourism and sports could shape sub-national prosperity. Between 1999 and 2007, deliberate public financing, destination marketing, and […]
Institutional Accountability & Democratic Linkages Nigeria’s Decline in Global Rankings NIGERIA is closing 2025 with a grim reputation. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) now ranks the country 122 out of 180 in its latest Press Freedom Index — a fall from 115 in 2024. Beyond the numbers lies a worsening pattern of intimidation, detention, and legal […]
Custody, Conviction, and the Clock: A Deep Dive into Sentencing Law The Problem With Assumptions WHEN someone is remanded in custody pending trial, the assumption that this period will automatically count toward any potential sentence is widespread but legally flawed. The law protects personal liberty at every stage of the criminal process, but it also […]