WHEN THE CHILD CAN’T CONSENT: ESABUNOR V FAWEYA AND THE BEST INTERESTS PRINCIPLE IN NIGERIAN LAW | Lydia Ehisuoria Ohonsi, Esq.
Lydia Ehisuoria Ohonsi, Esq. Alternate-Chair, NBA Lagos Branch Human Rights Committee. Abstract In Esabunor & Anor v Faweya & Ors , the Supreme Court of Nigeria, in a lead judgment delivered by Rhodes-Vivour JSC on 8 March 2019, dismissed the appeal of the parents of an infant whose life-saving blood transfusion had been authorised by a Chief Magistrate over their religious objection. The Court held that where a competent parent or person in loco parentis refuses blood transfusion or other medical treatment for a child on religio…
THE GRAND MIRAGE OF DOMESTIC SERVICE: WHY A GATEMAN IS NOT A SWISS ARMY KNIFE UNDER NIGERIAN LABOUR LAW | Clementina E. Ukiri, Esq.
Clementina E. Ukiri, Esq. There is a recurring hazard in urban Nigerian affluence: the blurring of lines between employing domestic help and running a modern-day feudal estate. It is easy for an employer sitting in a highbrow residence to treat an employment contract as a blank canvas of multitasking convenience. However, when viral court skits playfully spotlight a gateman juggling seven different roles—acting simultaneously as a security guard, dog handler, gardener, houseboy, and errand runner for a fraction of fair compensation—they stri…
THE DIGITAL TRIBUNAL: DEFAMATION, CYBER-ACCUSATIONS, AND THE LAW IN SOCIAL MEDIA NIGERIA | Clementina E. Ukiri, Esq. (De Dominus Litis)
Introduction In contemporary Nigeria, the smartphone has transformed every citizen into a broadcaster, publisher, and, frequently, a self-appointed judge. From viral WhatsApp group chat forwards and ‘call-out’ culture on X (formerly Twitter) to public accusations aired on Instagram and Facebook (Meta), the internet has become a sprawling court of public opinion. However, the speed with which information travels online often outstrips legal awareness. Many internet users operate under the mistaken belief that digital spaces are lawless fron…
THE AI-POWERED ADVOCATE: BALANCING INNOVATION, ETHICS, AND THE GREEN PEN DOCTRINE | Clementina E. Ukiri, Esq. (De Dominus Litis)
Introduction The legal profession is built on tradition, strict adherence to precedent, and the painstaking crafting of language. From the meticulous drafting of property covenants to complex corporate compliance briefs, the traditional lawyer's toolkit has long relied on physical volumes, leather-bound law reports, and hours of manual transcription. Today, however, the landscape is shifting. Artificial intelligence has firmly crossed the threshold into the legal ecosystem. For the modern Nigerian practitioner, the question is no lon…
NAVIGATING THE JURISDICTIONAL CONUNDRUM: THE LPDC APPEAL CRISIS AND THE ALADEJOBI WATERSHED | LYDIA EHISUORIA OHONSI, ESQ.
LYDIA EHISUORIA OHONSI, ESQ. Abstract The legal profession in Nigeria is anchored on stringent ethical standards, with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) serving as the primary statutory tribunal for the adjudication of professional misconduct. However, the appellate framework for challenging the directions of the LPDC has degenerated into a profound crisis, characterised by statutory contradictions, a resultant jurisdictional vacuum, and significant constitutional implications. At the heart of this crisis is the conflict …
DIGITAL VIOLENCE AND PRIVACY: LEGAL REMEDIES FOR CYBERBULLYING AND IMAGE-BASED ABUSE — CURTAILING THE ONLINE HARASSMENT OF FEMALE LAWYERS UNDER NIGERIAN LAW | Lydia Ehisuoria Ohonsi, Esq.
Lydia Ehisuoria Ohonsi, Esq. Abstract The migration of professional and social life onto digital platforms has produced a corresponding migration of gendered violence in cyberspace. This article examines the Nigerian legal architecture governing cyberbullying and image-based abuse, with particular attention to the disproportionate online harassment experienced by female lawyers who maintain a public professional profile. It interrogates the adequacy of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2024, the Nigeria Data Protection Act …
THE ANATOMY OF A MANDATE: PROFESSIONAL SOLIDARITY AND THE "GROUNDWORK GAP" | Amb. Barr. Clementina E. Ukiri (De Dominus Litis)
The recent courtroom drama involving the social media influencer Chidiebere Mark (Justice Crack) and his erstwhile counsel, Marshall Abubakar, at the Federal High Court Abuja, is more than a viral headline. For the discerning legal practitioner, it is a sobering case study on the fragile intersection of professional etiquette, the law of agency, and litigation strategy. When seniority is invoked as a sword rather than a shield, and when a client’s family undermines counsel in open court, the resulting legal skeleton reveals a systemic failu…
ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S CONSENT AND THE STATUS OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA IN GARNISHEE PROCEEDINGS: ANTECEDENT CONTROVERSY, CURRENT REALITIES AND THE LIDAN ENGINEERING WATERSHED | Lydia Ehisuoria Ohonsi, LL.B., BL
Lydia Ehisuoria Ohonsi, LL.B., BL The enforcement of monetary judgments against the Nigerian Federal Government and its agencies has long been bedevilled by the consent requirement embedded in Section 84 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, Cap. S6, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (SCPA). At the heart of this legal struggle is the question of whether the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) qualifies as a ‘public officer’ under that provision, which would necessitate obtaining prior consent from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) …
THE RURAL LAWYER'S REALITY – WELFARE CHALLENGES BEYOND THE CITIES. | Chinelo Audrey Ofoegbunam
Introduction – Law Beyond the Skyline When people picture the Nigerian lawyer, the image that comes to mind is often that of a sharply dressed professional navigating the busy courts of Lagos, Abuja, or Port Harcourt. The lawyer who drafts high-stakes contracts for multinational clients or argues in fully air-conditioned courtrooms before a judge with access to digital case files. Yet, this image, though glamorous—is a narrow reflection of legal reality. Across Nigeria’s small towns and rural communities, thousands of lawyers labour quietly un…
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THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR COMBATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN NIGERIA: EXPLORING LAWS LIKE THE VAAP ACT. | Lydia Ehisuoria Ohonsi, Esq.
INTRODUCTION Legal framework combating violence against women in Nigeria has evolved significantly, anchored by the landmark Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act of 2015 and supported by constitutional provisions and other laws. However, the system's effectiveness is challenged by gaps in implementation and enforcement. The Cornerstone: The VAPP Act of 2015 The Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act represents a monumental shift in Nigeria's legal approach to gender-based violence. Enacted in 2015, its main thrust…
