Reform or Regression? AN amendment to Clause 60 of the Electoral Act by the Senate has reopened debate about the balance between technological reform and electoral credibility in Nigeria. The revised clause mandates electronic transmission of polling unit results to INEC’s IREV portal. The reform appears aligned with growing demands for real-time transparency following controversies […]
Why You Can Be Arrested Without Committing a Crime in Nigeria IN Nigeria, and indeed in many legal systems worldwide, arrest does not equate to guilt. The law allows law enforcement agencies to detain individuals based on reasonable suspicion, rather than conclusive evidence. This distinction—critical to understanding criminal procedure—is often misunderstood by the public, with […]
Rethinking Bride Price and Marital Dissolution ACROSS many Nigerian communities, a long-standing belief persists: that a customary marriage cannot be dissolved unless the husband physically collects the bride price he previously paid. For some women seeking to exit broken unions, this belief has become a source of fear and prolonged uncertainty. However, legal practitioners and […]
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 […]
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 […]
When DNA Says “Not the Father”: Why One Test Is Not the Final Word A DNA test declaring a man “not the biological father” can trigger one of the most emotionally destabilising moments in family life. Shock, anger and a collapse of trust often follow within minutes. For many, the instinctive response is confrontation or […]