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    October 29, 2026
    News, News LETTER

    Medical Law Digest Q3 2026

    The third quarter of 2026 saw significant activity in Nigeria’s health sector, from preparations for the National Council on Health and new directives on the protection of health workers, to proposed reforms on mental health, e-health, facility regulation and drug procurement. This edition of the Medical Law Digest covers the key developments. HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS EDITION: Federal Ministry of Health Begins Preparations for 67th National Council on Health On 20 August 2026, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare inaugurated the sub-committees for the 67th National Council on Health, scheduled for Lafia, Nasarawa State, from 16 to 20 November 2026 under the theme “From Commitment to Results: Delivering Quality and Equitable Healthcare for All Nigerians”. Under Section 5 of the National Health Act 2014, the Council coordinates policy between the Federal Government and the States, although its resolutions do not replace legislation or the statutory powers of regulators. Federal Government Directs Measures to Protect Health Workers Following the report of the Ministerial Committee on the Harassment of Health Workers by Security Personnel, constituted on 19 May 2026 after an incident at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, the Federal Government directed immediate implementation of protective measures. These include stronger internal security, Violence Prevention Teams, mandatory incident reporting and investigation, and agreed rules for security operations within hospital premises. The Government noted that the absence of a specific law on violence against health workers does not prevent enforcement of existing criminal, civil or administrative laws. Jehovah’s Witnesses Revise Position on Blood Components On 18 September 2026, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses announced that decisions on accepting red cells, white cells, plasma or platelets are now matters of individual conscience, while the position against whole blood transfusion remains unchanged. The development reinforces patient autonomy and informed consent, as recognised in M.D.P.D.T. v. Okonkwo (2001), while Esabunor & Anor v. Faweya & Ors (2019) confirms that parental religious beliefs cannot prevent necessary medical intervention for a child. Healthcare professionals should ascertain each patient’s individual wishes and document the decision carefully. Call for Review of Abortion Law Highlights Legal Questions on Foetal Abnormalities Prof. Olufemi Oloyede of Olabisi Onabanjo University has called for a review of Nigeria’s abortion laws in cases of severe foetal abnormalities, and for a multidisciplinary bioethics committee to assess complex prenatal cases. Under the Criminal Code and the Penal Code, termination is generally permitted only to save the woman’s life, so the current framework does not provide a statutory ground based solely on foetal abnormality. Any reform would need to balance maternal autonomy, foetal interests, medical judgment and safeguards against discriminatory decision-making. Federal Government Moves Towards Decriminalising Attempted Suicide The Federal Executive Council has approved a proposed amendment to the National Mental Health Act 2021 to remove attempted suicide from the criminal law, with the proposal to be transmitted to the National Assembly. Attempted suicide is currently punishable under section 327 of the Criminal Code and section 231 of the Penal Code. FEC approval does not by itself repeal these provisions, as the National Assembly must still pass the amendment. The Government links the reform to a broader […]

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    October 29, 2026
    News, News LETTER

    Entertainment Law Digest Q3 2026

    The third quarter of 2026 brought significant developments across Nigeria’s entertainment and creative economy. Courts delivered notable rulings on authorship, recording contracts and collective management, regulators moved on film censorship and digital enforcement, and global AI-related copyright litigation continued to escalate. This edition of the Entertainment Law Digest covers the key developments. HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS EDITION: Sinach Wins ₦5 Billion Copyright Battle Over “Way Maker” On 24 July 2026, the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, dismissed a suit by music producer Michael Oluwole (Maye) against gospel musician Osinachi Joseph Egbu (Sinach), in which he claimed co-authorship, co-ownership and ₦5 billion in damages over the song “Way Maker”. Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa held that providing post-production services such as mixing and mastering an existing composition does not confer co-authorship, since authorship requires original expressive contribution to the composition itself. The case underscores the need for written work-for-hire agreements for recording sessions. Runtown Ordered to Return to Eric Many and Pay About ₦319 Million In a ruling delivered on 16 July 2026, Justice O. A. Musa of the High Court of the FCT, Abuja, held that the June 2016 recording contract between Eric Many Limited and Runtown (Douglas Jack Agu) remained valid and enforceable. The Court ordered specific performance of the artist’s remaining recording obligations, including delivery of a full-length album, affirmed the label’s proprietary rights in the “RUNTOWN” mark, and ordered payment of approximately ₦319 million, comprising unrecouped label investments, general damages and costs. Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) v. Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) The Court of Appeal (Lagos Division) unanimously dismissed COSON’s interlocutory appeal and awarded ₦200,000 in costs against the Society. Because COSON’s operational licence had already been suspended and later expired before the suit was filed, there was no subsisting approval to preserve by injunction. The decision reinforces the NCC’s statutory authority over collective management organisations. Africa Music Business Roundtable (AMBR) 2026 From 16 to 18 July 2026, Lagos hosted AMBR 2.0, bringing together music executives, legal scholars, technology innovators, policymakers and rights administrators. Key themes included AI and copyright integrity, data-driven royalty transparency, institutional investment and music IP securitisation, and policy frameworks to address digital gatekeeping. Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN) Warns Businesses Over Alleged Fake Music Licences In August 2026, MCSN issued a public warning to hotels, event centres, lounges, discotheques and broadcasters against paying royalties to unauthorised organisations. Citing the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of COSON’s interlocutory appeal, MCSN stated that it is the sole government-approved CMO authorised by the NCC to grant public performance licences for musical works, and that paying an unlicensed entity offers no protection against infringement suits. Shallipopi, Seyi Vibez and T.I Blaze vs Dapper Music In August 2026, the three artists publicly accused music executive Damilola Akinwunmi (Dapper) and Dapper Music of financial mismanagement and contractual breaches, including unpaid streaming royalties, unauthorised IP licensing and signature forgery. Dapper Music denied the allegations and called for an independent forensic audit. The dispute highlights the importance of audit-rights clauses, transparent royalty accounting and clear recoupment terms. National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Moves Against Movie “Living in Colours” In late August […]

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    October 23, 2026
    News, News LETTER

    Energy Law Digest Q3 2026

    The third quarter of 2026 reflected Nigeria’s energy sector moving from broad legislative reform towards regulatory implementation, enforcement, and market restructuring. Across the petroleum sector, regulators focused on upstream licensing and performance obligations, deep offshore fiscal incentives, domestic gas supply, and competition and market access, while the electricity sector saw continuing decentralisation of regulatory functions and increased intervention in the financial management of Distribution Companies. This edition of the Energy Law Digest covers the key developments. HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS EDITION: Upstream Licensing and Performance Obligations: From Acreage Allocation to “Drill-or-Drop” Enforcement On 21 July 2026, the NUPRC announced 31 successful companies for 37 oil and gas blocks under the 2025 Licensing Round. More significantly, in a circular dated 14 September 2026, the Commission moved towards active enforcement of the “drill-or-drop” principle, directing holders of non-performing licences from the 2020 Marginal Field Bid Round, 2022/2023 Mini Bid Round, and 2024 Licensing Round to disclose compliance status and submit mitigation measures and revised timelines by 31 October 2026, with non-performance risking refusal of extensions, relinquishment, or revocation. Deep Offshore Investment and Fiscal Incentives On 6 August 2026, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Incentives (Tax Remission) Order 2026, introducing Standard and Supplementary Production Tax Credits for qualifying deep offshore developments, along with a Profit Oil Reset allowing the profit-oil sliding scale to restart at a 70:30 Contractor-Government split for approved Production Sharing Contract projects — subject to Final Investment Decision, Nigerian-content, and compliance conditions, with clawback provisions for improperly obtained incentives. Domestic Gas Supply Obligations and Gas Market Reform In July 2026, the NUPRC held a stakeholder workshop on a proposed Gas Swap Framework following DGDO compliance of approximately 65% in June 2026. In August, the Commission also disclosed consultations on a broader domestic crude oil and gas swap arrangement, while strengthening oversight of the Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, under which 27 of 43 identified flare-gas sites had been awarded. Separately, the NMDPRA set 24 September 2028 as the target date for Nigeria’s domestic gas market to transition to a fully established willing-buyer, willing-seller framework. Competition and Market Access in the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Sector On 6 August 2026, the NMDPRA published draft Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Prevention of Anti-Competitive Practices and Behaviour Regulations 2026 for stakeholder engagement, comprising 138 regulations across 23 Parts addressing anti-competitive conduct, abuse of dominance, and access to essential infrastructure. The NMDPRA and FCCPC also entered a Memorandum of Understanding in September 2026 to strengthen coordination on competition regulation, and on 28 September 2026 the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the NMDPRA to continue granting and renewing petroleum products import licences to Matrix Energy, A.A. Rano, and AYM Shafa. Decentralisation of Electricity Regulation On 19 August 2026, NERC issued a Transfer Order handing regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Akwa Ibom State to the newly established Akwa Ibom State Electricity Regulatory Commission, continuing the state-level regulatory framework contemplated under the Electricity Act 2023. On 27 August 2026, the Forum of Nigerian Electricity Regulators held its second coordination meeting with NERC and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions. NERC Intervention and […]

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    October 23, 2026
    News, News LETTER

    Dispute Resolution Digest Q3 2026

    The third quarter of 2026 brought significant activity across Nigeria’s dispute resolution landscape – from Compos Mentis’ own expansion into institutional ADR, to landmark Supreme Court rulings on banking mergers, maritime jurisdiction, and legislative powers, as well as notable developments in data protection and international commercial arbitration. This edition of the Dispute Resolution Digest covers the key developments. HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS EDITION: Compos Scriba ADR Centre: Expanding the Frontiers of Dispute Resolution On 7 August 2026, the Compos Scriba Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre was formally inaugurated at its headquarters in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. Equipped with modern facilities for both physical and virtual sessions, the Centre is designed to facilitate efficient, confidential, and commercially responsive dispute resolution for parties within and beyond Nigeria. The inauguration was attended by representatives of the Delta State Multi-Door Courthouse, the Attorney-General of Delta State, the Delta State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (DACCIMA), and the Nigerian Bar Association. Supreme Court Brings Finality to Providus–Unity Bank Merger In Abubakar & Anor v Providus Bank Ltd & Ors, delivered 1 June 2026, the Supreme Court dismissed a shareholder challenge to the Providus–Unity Bank merger and invoked its powers under section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to sanction the merger outright — ordering the transfer of Unity Bank’s assets and liabilities to Providus Bank and its dissolution without winding up. Seplat Compensation Dispute: Court Limits Legislative Investigative Powers On 20 July 2026, the Federal High Court, Lagos, set aside a House of Representatives directive requiring Seplat Energy to pay ₦72.624 billion in oil-spill compensation, holding that the National Assembly’s investigative powers do not extend to determining civil liability — a function constitutionally reserved for the courts. Nigeria Signals a New Direction for Investor-State Disputes Settlement: AGF Calls for Reforms Speaking at the Chief Legal Advisers Forum in Singapore on 27 August 2026, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, called for reform of Nigeria’s investor-State dispute settlement framework and a review of its investment treaty obligations, drawing on lessons from the P&ID arbitration. Beyond the Courts: Nigeria’s Proposed Commercial Dispute Resolution Tribunal In June 2026, Minister of Finance Taiwo Oyedele proposed establishing a specialised Commercial Dispute Resolution Tribunal to accelerate resolution of commercial disputes, using digital case management, technology-driven proceedings, and mandatory timelines, with sector experts in banking, finance, securities, and capital markets. Identity Theft, KYC and the Evolving Scope of Data Controller Liability: Olukunjuwon v Moniepoint Microfinance Bank Ltd On 30 July 2026, the High Court of Oyo State held that Moniepoint breached its duties under the Nigeria Data Protection Act by opening accounts using the applicant’s personal data without authorisation or adequate identity verification, awarding ₦3,000,000 in damages and ordering closure of the affected accounts. Tecnimont Wins Against EuroChem in a Longstanding Arbitral Battle On 28 August 2026, an ICC arbitral tribunal seated in London ordered EuroChem to pay approximately €260 million to Tecnimont over the suspended K2 fertiliser plant construction in Russia, dismissing EuroChem’s €1.6 billion counterclaim and finding Tecnimont’s suspension of performance (prompted by EU sanctions) lawful. Supreme Court Recasts the Boundaries of Maritime […]

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