Development law policy is a tool that intersects law and economic development. Development law scholars agree that there is a strong link between law, regulatory institutions, governance, economic development and national welfare. It is argued that the Nigerian legal and judicial framework is hopelessly outdated and needs an urgent review to meet current challenges. Yet […]
BlogPublished ArticlesLawyers/Law Firms are Taxable Persons Liable to Pay VAT — Conclusions from Al-Masser vs. FIRS
September 30, 20191
There has been debate in some legal circles as to whether a lawyer or firm of lawyers are duty-bound to pay Value Added Tax (VAT) to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as stipulated by sections 14(1) and 15(1) of the VAT Act, 1993 (as amended) (“the VAT Act”), for legal services they provide their […]
BlogPublished ArticlesPublished TextsNational Arbitration Policy: Critical Next Steps Following the P&ID Award
September 9, 20192
The need for a National Arbitration Policy comes on the back of the recent enforcement order relating to the sum of US$9, 000, 000, 000 (Nine Billion US Dollars) made against Nigeria by an English High Court, which was based upon an arbitration award secured by a company, Process and Industrial Developments Limited (P&ID), has […]
BlogPublished ArticlesPublished TextsThe African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA): Benefits of a Single African Market & Its Opportunities
July 30, 20190
The African Continental Free Trade Agreement was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari at the African Union Summit on Sunday, July 7, 2019. At the summit, member countries agreed to launch the “operational phase” of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and decided on common “rules of origin, the monitoring and elimination of non-tariff barriers […]
BlogDrilling Rig as a Vessel: Distinguishing the TRANSOCEAN Case Vis-a-Vis the SEADRILL Case
July 18, 20190
The Court of Appeal in the recent Judgment of Transocean Support Services Nigeria Limited & 3 Ors v Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency & 1 Or: Appeal No:CA/L/ 503/2016, held that drilling rigs cannot be deemed to be vessels for the purpose of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act, 2003 and liable to […]
BlogNews & EventsNews & MediaLandmark Judgement: An Oil Rig is a Vessel Under the Cabotage Act, 2003
June 20, 20192
In a landmark judgment delivered on Friday, June 14, 2019, by Honourable Justice Babs Keuwumi of the Federal High Court Lagos, in Seadrill Mobile Units Nigeria Limited v The Honourable Minister for Transportation & 2 Ors Suit No:FHC/L/CS/607/2016, initiated vide an Originating Summons, it was held that drilling operations fall within the definition of ‘coastal […]