Author: Lawbreed Limited

The decision of the Supreme Court that online sitting is not unlawful would have saved the day, if the ‘judgment’ does not appear to be an obiter dictum. An obiter dictum is a judicial comment made in the course of delivering a judicial opinion, and as such, does not amount to a judicial precedent. Clearly, what the Lagos and Ekiti state governments wanted from the Supreme Court was a judicial precedent (stare decisis), to ensure the sanctity of virtual proceeding, which has become imperative in the face of challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. But, alas, the apex court reportedly…

The Federal Inland Revenue Service has issued a public notice on the establishment of its Large Taxpayers’ Office in Awka, Anambra State. A statement by the Service signed by its Executive Chairman, Mohammad Nami said the office is located at Plot 4, Abuja Estate, Glass House, Opp. Government House, Enugu/Onitsha Express Way, Awka, Anambra State. The announcement said the new office is in a bid to further improve ”our services, promote voluntary compliance and ease of paying taxes.” See the announcement below…

The Hon. President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria, His Lordship, Hon. Justice B. B. Kanyip, Ph.D, FNIALS pursuant to Section 254F(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, Section 36 of the National Industrial Court Act 2006, Order 1 Rule 8 (3) of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (Civil Procedure) Rules 2017 issued Practice Directions to govern filing and hearing of matters during and after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to ensure continued access to justice while maintaining social distancing and also to ensure Remote Hearing is conducted in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic…

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has commenced the implementation of additional reliefs and measures to further ease the impact of the pandemic on taxpayers in Lagos state. The measures, according to a statement became effective on July 16, 2020. It stated that the additional measures and incentives were sequel to the agency’s initial 3-month extension of the deadline for filing of annual returns, from March 31 to June 30, 2020. According to the Executive Chairman, LIRS, Mr. Ayodele Subair, “the following measures are to be implemented to further ease the impact of the pandemic on our esteemed taxpayers…

In response to requests by some taxpayers seeking clarification on the current administration of Stamp Duties Act in Nigeria, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) provides clarifications to guide taxpayers and the general public. Read and Download guidelines below: [pdf-embedder url=”https://lawbreed.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FIRS-Stamp-Duty-1.pdf” title=”FIRS-Stamp-Duty”] [mks_button size=”medium” title=”Click Here To Download Circular” style=”squared” url=”https://lawbreed.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FIRS-Stamp-Duty-1.pdf” target=”_self” bg_color=”#000000″ txt_color=”#FFFFFF” icon=”” icon_type=”” nofollow=”0″]

Introduction In his amusing collection of essays, Essays in Satire, Father Ronald Knox included one entitled “The New Sin”. This told how an announcement appeared in the Morning Post to the effect that on a particular evening in the year, a lecture would be delivered in the Albert Hall in London entitled “The New Sin”. Came the evening and naturally, the Albert Hall was packed. The vast audience awaited the arrival of the lecturer in a mood of suppressed excitement. A short stocky middle-aged man, apparently of European origin came on to the podium. He had endured, he explained, great…

This matter of making the Stamp Duty (and by implication tax revenue) the next black gold has occupied my mind even long before I was appointed the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service. I have thought that given the way the Nigerian economy has been experiencing some difficulties due to unpredictable shocks in the competitive international oil market, it would be economically wise that the country begins to activate its latent tax potentials such as the stamp duty which has long been neglected. For me, the key to Nigeria’s economic prosperity is the tax revenue driven by Stamp…

Sequel to the declaration of 2020 Annual vacation by the Court, the Hon. President, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Benedict Kanyip, Ph.D, FNIALS has graciously appointed Four (4) Judges to serve as vacation Judges from 27th July 2020 to 25th September 2020. While Their Lordships, Hon. Justice Z. M. Bashir and Hon. Justice I. J. Essien will serve in Abuja and Lagos Judicial Divisions respectively from 27th July 2020 to 26th August 2020; Hon. Justice Ibrahim Galadima and Hon. Justice N. C. S. Ogbuanya will also serve in Abuja and Lagos Judicial Divisions respectively from 27th August 2020 to 25th September 2020. Hon. President, Hon.…

A legal challenge by the West African state has sparked questions about transparency in arbitration courts. Below is an article by Kate Beioley and Neil Munshi, correspondents of The Financial Times titled: ”The $6bn Judgment pitting Nigeria Against a London Court”: [pdf-embedder url=”https://lawbreed.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FT-The-6bn-judgment-pitting-Nigeria-against-a-London-court-_-Financial-Times-200712.pdf” title=”FT The $6bn judgment pitting Nigeria against a London court _ Financial Times 200712″] [mks_button size=”medium” title=”Click Here To Download Article” style=”squared” url=”https://lawbreed.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FT-The-6bn-judgment-pitting-Nigeria-against-a-London-court-_-Financial-Times-200712.pdf” target=”_blank” bg_color=”#000000″ txt_color=”#FFFFFF” icon=”” icon_type=”” nofollow=”0″]

Layi Babatunde, SAN, is a quiet achiever. In his over three decades of law practice and publication of Supreme Court Law Reports, he has devoted himself to numerous worthy causes. In this interview with Henry Ojelu of Vanguard News, he shares his concern on some critical issues in the country. He spoke on politics, falling standard of law practice, illiteracy, poverty among other things. Excerpt.. You have been in law practice for over three decades now. How has the experience being for you? I thank God. I would say it has been interesting in a number of ways and…