Author: Lawbreed Limited

Renowned Nigerian human rights activist and former National Human Rights Commission chairman, Chidi Odinkalu, has sharply criticized the Supreme Court for its failure to hear a high-profile constitutional challenge to the recent state of emergency in Rivers State, calling the inaction a deliberate “decision” that will “go down in infamy” in Nigeria’s judicial history. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) early Friday, Odinkalu, who holds the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CGoF) honor, highlighted the apex court’s protracted silence on Suit No. SC/CV/329/2025, filed by 11 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-governed states in April 2025.…

By Muiz Banire SAN Physical planning is at the heart of every sustainable society. It is the deliberate process through which land, resources, infrastructure, and human activities are organized to achieve harmonious, functional, and aesthetically pleasing human settlements. In Nigeria, however, physical planning has been historically weak, reactive and often compromised by poor governance, corruption, rapid urbanization and a disregard for environmental sustainability. From the chaotic growth of Lagos to the uncoordinated sprawl of Abuja and the deteriorating conditions of older cities such as Kano, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt, Nigeria’s urban and regional development trajectory reflects a mismatch between policy…

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has commenced high-level consultations as he prepares for another run in the 2027 elections, with a formal declaration on his political platform expected in November. Our correspondent gathered that Obi recently met former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, where he appealed for his support and urged him not to join the 2027 race. He later briefed former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the outcome of the meeting while seeking his continued backing. A senior insider in Obi’s camp confirmed that the former Anambra governor is determined to contest again and is working to…

A High Court sitting in Katsina has sentenced Mr. Rabiu Musa Matazu, Director of Administration at the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA), to six years in prison for diverting public funds to his personal use. The spokesperson of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), Demola Bakare who disclosed the conviction in a statement on Wednesday, said Matazu was arraigned on a four-count charge of criminal breach of trust and abuse of office. According to the Commission, Matazu collected ₦305,000 as rent from government properties in Katsina in 2014 through a subordinate but failed to…

The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) has released the names of 62 candidates shortlisted for appointment to the Federal High Court bench. Published in national newspapers on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, the announcement invites public comments on the integrity, reputation, and suitability of the nominees within 14 days. Headquartered at the Supreme Court Complex in Abuja’s Three Arms Zone, the FJSC emphasized that the candidates were shortlisted following a rigorous computer-based test conducted by the Federal High Court. While 14 judicial appointments are planned, the full list of 62 nominees, organized by state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), reflects…

THE LAUNCH OF THE PRACTICAL TRAINING ACADEMY AS A PLATFORM FOR FREE AND HIGH-QUALITY CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES FOR NIGERIAN LAWYERS Over the course of my two decades of legal practice across various jurisdictions, I have had the privilege of coordinating and leading continuing professional development initiatives for my colleagues. My journey began as a Learning and Development Lead early in my career, and I have since had the honour of serving as a Law Society of England and Wales accredited facilitator. My commitment to professional development continued as I became the Chairman of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Committee…

The Upper Customary Court sitting in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, has dissolved the marriage between Mr. Danladi Sule and Mrs. Philomena Yakubu, ruling on a contentious petition that involved questions of marriage validity, child custody, and multiple claims for damages. Delivering judgment on Thursday, His Worship Emmanuel J. Samaila (Esq.), held that a valid marriage existed between the parties under Atyap custom despite the non-payment of deferred bride price. The court consequently pronounced the marriage dissolved with effect from September 11, 2025. On the issue of custody, the court ruled in favor of the petitioner, Mr. Sule, granting him custody of…

In a bold stride toward digitizing Nigeria’s tax administration, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has officially launched the National E-Invoicing Solution – a move set to revolutionize how large businesses document and report their transactions. Starting 1st August 2025, all Large taxpayers—defined as businesses with an annual turnover of ₦5 billion and above — are now required to adopt the FIRS Merchant-Buyer model of electronic invoicing. This marks the end of the voluntary pilot phase, which began in November 2024, and the commencement of full-scale implementation across relevant sectors. Key Highlights of the Mandatory E-Invoicing Rollout: Real-Time Transaction Reporting:…

No fewer than 37 condemned prisoners are awaiting execution after being sentenced for capital crimes in Bauchi State. The Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Correctional Service, Bauchi State Command, Mr Ahmed Tata, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, on Tuesday in Bauchi. Reacting to a NAN survey on why the state governors are reluctant to sign death warrants, Tata said the condemned prisoners comprised 36 males and one female. He recalled that none of the democratically elected governors in the state had signed death warrants since 1999 The spokesman, however, said that governors during the military…

No fewer than 72 students of the elite Nigerian Law School have carted home the much-coveted First Class grade in the Bar Finals Examination held last February. According to information obtained by CITY LAWYER, the outstanding students constitute only 1.3 per cent of the 5,674 aspirants to the Nigerian Bar who sat for the examination for the Backlog Set. Meanwhile, a whopping 994 or 17.5 per cent of the students posted the much-dreaded “Fail” grade and would repeat the entire courses while 229 or 4.0 per cent of the Bar aspirants received Conditional Pass. On the other hand, 608 (10.7…