Author: Lawbreed Limited

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on the Federal Government to urgently consolidate its fiscal policies to create space and reduce debt sustainability risks. It specifically urged the government to increase Value Added Tax (VAT) from the current 7.5 percent and remove fuel subsidy without further delay in order to enhance long-term, inclusive growth. This is contained in the 2021 IMF Executive Board Article IV Consultation with Nigeria, which was concluded on January 31, 2022, and released Tuesday. The IMF’s report said: “Nigerian economy is recovering from a historic downturn benefitting from government policy support, rising oil prices and…

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olumide Akpata, on Tuesday in Lagos, said he would submit a recommendation on remuneration scale for lawyers to the National Executive Committee within the next two weeks. Akpata made the disclosure in a statement following the submission of a 126-page report by the Remuneration Committee of the NBA. The said report was submitted on Monday night by the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Anthony Nwaochei, alongside other members of the committee. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NBA President, had in March 2021, set up the remuneration committee…

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Monday signed three bills into law during the weekly State Executive Council meeting at Lagos House, Ikeja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three bills included the law regulating real estate transactions and the law to provide for the registration of Cooperative Societies in Lagos State. It also included the law to regulate ownership, licensing and sales of pets and to prohibit and restrict people from having in custody dangerous animals in public places. Mr Sanwo-Olu said the new bills would strengthen government and citizens’ engagement and relationships. According to him, the…

Nigeria’s Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, has called for a complete reorientation on the exercise of regulatory authority in the country because over-regulation is killing businesses. According to him, for businesses and investors to thrive in the country, regulatory requirements need to be reduced and certification processes need to be faster. According to a statement signed by Laolu Akande, Mr Osinbajo’s spokesperson, the VP said this on Tuesday, after receiving a report of an Ad-Hoc Committee of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, on Agro-Export and the presentation of a National Action Plan 7.0 at the Presidential Villa. He lamented that…

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday approved the establishment of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB). This followed a request made by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami). A statement by the Spokesperson to the Minister, Mrs. Uwa Suleiman, said the NDPB was established in line with global best practice and will focus on data protection and privacy for the country, among others. She explained that the successful implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria has significantly increased the adoption of data platforms and accelerated the datafication of…

Protocols 1. I feel privileged to be amid so many learned and very distinguished Senior Advocates of Nigeria, men, and women who, through hard work and dedication have been recognized by their peers and elevated to the pinnacle of their profession. Having spent all of my adult life in a regimented profession that is considered by critics not to be democratic in nature, I almost feel like fish out of water in your midst except that I have been blessed to have a lifelong partner, friend, confidant and companion who is as learned as you all are and had risen…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday signed the bills for the establishment of additional two universities in the State – Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology. He assented to the bills transmitting Lagos State Polytechnic in Ikorodu, Isolo and Surulere campuses to the University of Science and Technology as well as Adeniran Ogunsanya Colleges of Education, Ijanikin and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Epe to Lagos State University of Education. The signing ceremony, which took place at the Lagos House, Marina, was witnessed by the Special Adviser to the…

The National Broadcasting Commission has sanctioned an Abuja-based radio station, Vision FM, for discussing the controversial extension of the appointment of the National Intelligence Agency’s Director-General, Rufai Abubakar. In a letter addressed to Vision FM’s Managing Director on Wednesday in Kaduna, the NBC claimed it sanctioned the broadcasting outfit for airing content harmful to the country’s national security in one of its programmes, ‘Idon Mikiya’ on January 5, 2022. NBC pointed out that the station breached section 39 (3) (b) of the 1999 constitution that imposed restrictions on issues relating to government security services or agencies. “Your discussion of issues,…

The Lagos State Rebuilding Trust Fund has begun reconstructing the Igbosere High Court, which was razed down by hijackers of the #EndSARS protest on October 21, 2020. The Nation on Wednesday observed two heavy Caterpillar excavators demolishing the charred remains of the multi-courtroom structure, reputed as the country’s oldest and most recognisable judicial building. A signboard outside the premises – which has now been covered – also advertised the reconstruction. Originally called the Supreme Court with its jurisdiction limited to Lagos, the court’s existence dates back to the period of the cession of Lagos to the British Government when Lagos…

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has secretly awarded a multi-billion-naira assets recovery contract to a company and its lawyers. The firm, Gerry Ikputu & Partners, an estate valuer, which further engaged a law firm, M. E. Sheriff & Co, as its agent, was instructed by Mr Malami to recover identified large expanses of land and buildings said to be belonging to the federal government in 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. They will be entitled to three (3) per cent of the worth of every successful recovery, Mr Malami’s letter awarding…