Chidi Jude Dimgba & Co.

21/02/2026

1. What is Retainership in legal practice?

2. How does it work?

3. What are the risks and challenges associated with a Retainership Agreement with a client?

4. What are the things to consider before entering into a Retainership Agreement with a client?

5. How to avoid the pitfalls in Retainership Agreements.

16/02/2026

05/12/2025

STAYING AWAY FROM BEING BROKE AS A LAWYER -JUST A TIP
Linda Emosirame Asekhauno wrote on the wall of Edge Classroom

I realised some years ago, just into early practice, that in order not to be broke in this profession, one needs to be financially wise and prudent in spending.

When the briefs come, aside savings and removing the funds for carrying out that brief, you also need to invest.

Invest in something that will yield meaningful returns.

I found out that a lot of lawyers spend extravagantly above their earnings, making their standard of living higher than their earnings without any back up savings. They do this just because of competition.

You will see a lawyer, who does not even have savings or investment, buying a car that will always take away the small appearance fees that their clients are giving them just because they "wanna be" or they want to impress others that they are there whereas they are nowhere.

Some even rent houses that the landlord will end up dragging them in court.

Don't get me wrong. Those things are good, but they have their time.

You should be well prepared for that lifestyle. You should have something somewhere to foot that lifestyle.

Another thing that makes some lawyers go broke is that they want to be "Mr. Nice Guy" all the time.

They always want to be there for others financially. Anybody that asks for financial assistance, they give.

They can't say, "No, I don't have" and when they equally need people they are shocked to see that no one is willing to to extend that same good gesture of financial assistance to them.

You can't please everyone .

Another thing that gets some lawyers broke is lending money out to whoever comes asking.

I learned a long time ago that I should not lend money that I cannot easily forfeit no matter the closeness of my relationship with the person borrowing from me.

Lending money has turned great friends into the worst enemies and families into strangers.

So, when someone comes asking me to lend them money, I give the person 10-20% of that money as a gift and forget it or I tell the person that I don't have to give -with apologies.

If you keep lending without getting back your money, you will end up becoming a millionaire outside and broke inside.

Savings is very key to be financially free from being broke.

One of the savings I do is a group contribution where one person takes all the money monthly.

It makes me dedicated and frugal in my spending, because it's like a monthly obligation on me to fulfil.

I wish us all a great year in 2026, where at the end of the year, there will be something substantial to show for our efforts -financially.

15/11/2025

OFTEN MISUSED WORDS/EXPRESSIONS IN ADVOCACY

Adumbration

In Court, it is common to have contentious Motions moved and written addresses adopted whether in support of the Motion or at the close of trial.

The written address is a process by which a party through his counsel makes legal arguments in support of his case.

It is common to hear a counsel, in an attempt to restate or reinforce the legal arguments in the written address, apply to the Court to be allowed to "adumbrate" their position. 😊😊😊😊

There is nothing like "adumbration/adumbrate" in that sense.

The appropriate word for the context is "amplify."

"...My Lord, in line with the Rules of the Honourable Court, we have filed our Final Written Address....

"Respectfully, we seek the leave of Your Lordship to enable us amplify our arguments in the said address.

"We are most obliged."

12/11/2025

It is another great success at the Federal High Court (headquarters) this morning.

To God be all the glory!

11/11/2025

Law is sweet!

27/10/2025

It is another great victory for one of our clients this morning.

God brought the referral to the Firm of Chidi Jude Dimgba & Co.

He gave the Firm the inspiration on how to go about the criminal case.

God gave the Firm the necessary wisdom to apply to the law as regards the facts of the case.

It was God that gave the Firm the right and proper words to use in the case.

God's things done in God's way receive God's results.

We all at Chidi Jude Dimgba & Co. say, "To God be all the glory."

24/10/2025

I do not agree with the submission of the Respondent’s counsel that since there was a substantial compliance with the provisions of the Oaths Act, an affidavit should not be declared incompetent merely because the words prescribed by the Act have not been used word for word. The Rule of Court in that aspect must be obeyed and it is not a kind of breach that can be referred to as a technicality as respondent’s counsel would like us to believe.
It therefore follows that a valid oath must be in the form prescribed by Section 13 of the Oaths Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. The form prescribed by Section 13 is in the 1st Schedule to the Act which provides as follows: "I do solemnly and sincerely declare...." Any Written statement, therefore, which does not bear the First Schedule to Section 13 of the Oaths Act, can not be said to be a Written Statement on Oath.

GTB PLC V. ABIODUN (2017) LPELR-42551 (CA)

16/10/2025

Woooooooow! It's another great victory for one of our corporate clients at Chidi Jude Dimgba & Co.

The judgment of the Honourable Court this morning was in favour of our esteemed client.

Law is sweet.

To God be all the glory.

29/09/2025

*COPIED*

*QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON THE NEW NIGERIA TAX LAW (SPECIFIC FOCUS ON INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESSES)*

*Q1*: When will the new Nigeria Tax Act take effect?
*A1:* The new Nigeria Tax Act takes effect from 1 January 2026.
*Q2*: Which specific individuals does the Nigeria Tax Law apply to?
*A2*: It applies to all individuals that earn income in Nigeria (workers, content creators, remote workers, influencers, traders, etc.) and to Nigerians earning income abroad if they are tax residents in Nigeria
*Q3*: Will transfers and deposits into my bank account be taxed?
*A3*: No. Moving money around (via POS, transfers, deposits, or withdrawals) is not a taxable event. What is taxed is income earned.
*Q4*: Will the money I keep in my bank account be taxed from 2026?
*A4* No. Just having money in your account is not taxable. Only the income you earn (like salary, business profits, or interest) is what can be taxed.
*Q5* I’m a student with no job. Will I pay tax in 2026?
*A5*: No. If you have no taxable income, you won't pay tax.
*Q6*: Will tax authorities now monitor bank accounts of businesses more closely?
*A6*: Yes, it will be easier for authorities to track compliance. But again, your bank balances will not be taxed, profits and income are.
*Q7* Will I pay tax on the loan I borrow from Fairmoney or any lender?
*A7* No. Loans are not taxable given that they are not income. However, the interest income earned by Fairmoney will be taxed at their own hands.
*Q8*: I run a one man business. Do I pay personal income tax or company income tax?
*A8*: If registered as an enterprise (business name), you pay Personal Income Tax. If registered as a limited liability company then you pay Company Income Tax.
*Q9*: If I sell shares and make profit, will I pay tax in 2026?
*A9*: No, as long as the shares you sold are not more than ₦150 million in value, and the gain is not above ₦10 million. However, if it is higher than this threshold, the gain becomes taxable.
*Q10*: I am a pensioner. Will my pension income be taxed in 2026?
*A10*: No. Approved pension and retirement benefits are exempt from tax.

*Q11* Are military salaries taxable?
*A11*: No. The salaries of military officers are now tax exempt.
*Q12* Do creatives (authors, musicians, sportsmen) still enjoy tax exemptions on foreign income?
*A12* No. They must now pay Nigerian tax on their income earned within Nigeria and outside.
*Q13*: Are crypto gains taxable?
*A13*: Yes. Profits from crypto, NFTs, and other digital assets are now taxed.

*Q14*: Who is exempt from personal income tax?
*A14*: Individuals earning the national minimum wage or less, and those earning below ₦800,000 annually, are exempt.
*Q15*: What are the new progressive tax bands?
*A15*
👉First ₦800,000 @ 0%
👉Next ₦2.2m @ 15%
👉Next ₦9m @ 18%
👉Next ₦13m @ 21%
👉Next ₦25m @ 23%
👉Above ₦50m @ 25%
*Q16* If I get a big severance package when leaving my job, will I pay tax on it?
*A16* You won't pay tax if it is ₦50 million or less but if it is more then the extra amount will be taxed using the progressive tax band in no 15 above.
*Q17* If I earn dividends or rent from abroad, will Nigeria tax it?
*A17*: Dividends, interests, rent, royalties earned from outside Nigeria are exempt from tax provided they are brought into Nigeria through approved channels (banks).
*Q18*: If a soldier or anyone in the armed forces gets injured in service and starts receiving a disability pension, will it be taxed in Nigeria?
*A18* No. The disability pensions earned by the soldier or anyone in the armed forces will completely be tax exempt.
*Q19*: My uncle wants to start an agricultural company next year. Will his company be taxed in Nigeria?
*A19*: No. Agricultural companies such as those in crop production, livestock, forestry, dairy, cocoa processing will enjoy a 5-year tax holiday from the date they begin operation
*Q20* Is income from Federal or State Government bonds taxable?
*A20*: No, all government bonds are exempt from tax.
*Q21*: What does rent relief entail under the new tax law?
*A21*: Yes. From 2026, individuals can claim rent relief of 20% of the annual rent paid, but capped at ₦500,000.
For instance, if your yearly rent is ₦5 million, 20% would be ₦1 million, but the law caps it at ₦500,000. To enjoy this relief, you must declare your actual rent and provide the details to the relevant tax authority.
*Q22*: I earn 6m yearly, will i be better off under the new tax law?
*A22*: Old law:
👉CRA = 20% of ₦6m (₦1.2m) + ₦200k = ₦1.4m.
👉Taxable income = ₦6m − ₦1.4m = ₦4.6m.
👉Applying old tax bands gives total tax of ₦896,000.
👉New law (NTA 2025):
Rent relief = ₦500k (must declare actual rent).
👉Taxable income = ₦6m − ₦500k = ₦5.5m.
👉Applying new bands:
👉First ₦800k @0% = 0
👉Next ₦2.2m @15% = ₦330k
Remaining ₦2.5m @18% = ₦450k
Under the new law, tax reduces from ₦896k to ₦780k, saving ₦116k. This will increase your net pay (take home pay).

*Q23*: If my company's turnover is below ₦50 million, will I pay tax?
*A23*: No. Small companies under ₦50m turnover are exempt from taxes.
*Q24* As a remote worker in Nigeria for an international organisation, will I pay tax?
*A24* Yes, you will pay tax in Nigeria if the country where the international organisation is based exempts your salary under a treaty or diplomatic arrangement.
*Q25*: Will a foreigner earning salary in Nigeria be taxed?
*A25*: No, if their employer is a start-up, or operates in tech or creative arts, and their income is already taxed in their country of residence.

29/09/2025

*APPEALS ON GROUNDS OF MIXED LAW AND FACTS WILL NOW END AT THE COURT OF APPEAL- LEAVE OR NO LEAVE*

Anyanwu v. Emmanuel (2025) 14 NWLR (Pt. 2006) 531
SUPREME COURT
..by virtue of the extant provisions of section 6 of the Constitution of the Federal of Rерubliс of Nigeria (Second Alteration) Act, 2010 vis-à-vis section 233 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court’s power to grant leave to appeal on gгounds of mixed law and facts, has been removed. That being the case, therefore, appeals on grounds of mixed law and facts аrе bound to terminate at the Couгt of Appeal. Ву the alterations, there is nо longer (section 233(3) оf the Constitution which allowed leave to арреаl to the Supreme Cоurt. That is to say, bу virtue оf section 233(1) and оf the constitution оf the Federal Rерubliс оf Nigeria, 1999 as altered, the Supreme Соurt сan оnlу hear appeals where the ground оf арреаl involves questions оf law. Тhе Supreme Соurt nо longer has jurisdiction to hear appeals where the ground of арреаl involves questions оf mixed law and facts. Appeals оn grounds of mixed law and facts end at the Court оf Appeal.

Anyanwu v. Emmanuel (2025) 14 NWLR (Pt. 2006) 531
SUPREME COURT

23/09/2025

*Awesome! Glory to God!*

A new legal year started on Monday last week.

Just this morning, the Firm of Chidi Jude Dimgba & Co. secured its first judgment at the High Court in favour of one of its corporate clients with spread within Nigeria and across several countries of the world.

We all at the Firm rejoice with our Client and give God all the glory.