Stephen Legal Blog

05/04/2026

HOW THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION MISSED A SIGNIFICANT DETAIL IN ITS EASTER MESSAGE TO CHRISTIANS

As Christians, we have been well-taught that the rolling up of the linen cloth was a symbol of calmness and order. This seemingly tiny but extremely significant detail, missed by the NBA, teaches us that the resurrection of Jesus occurred under divine control and orderliness.

On this Easter Sunday, many Christians all over the world celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ in great joy. This annual celebration is one of the greatest pillars of the Christian faith. Sharing in this joy, many Christians and non-Christians exchange goodwill messages—congratulato...

05/04/2026

Glory to the risen Lord.

03/04/2026

STARCOMMS PLC V. UNITY BANK PLC: HAS THE COURT OF APPEAL REWARDED DISHONESTY, DECEIT AND FRAUD IN THIS PROPERTY LAW CASE?

Perfection has never defined courts of law. But because our courts are designed to be courts of justice, every court is expected to demonstrate a genuine sense of justice. To do this, a court of law must show critical thinking in its dissection of complex legal issues, properly evaluate evidence, command logical precision, and hand down decisions that are rational, justifiable, and consistent. With the greatest respect, a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, in a property law case, in my opinion, could have benefitted greatly from these virtues. This was in the case of Starcomms Plc v. Unity Bank Plc (CA/L/CV/1429/2019) decided on 23 March 2026. Hon. Justice Onwosi, JCA read the Leading Judgment, and Hon. Justice Awotoye, JCA concurred without having anything to add. The majority on the bench in this case seems to have, in effect, rewarded dishonesty, deceit and fraudulent action. True to his conscience, and commendably so, Hon. Justice Abang declined to be part of it. I proceed below to demonstrate why this anomalous decision by the majority is too much to ignore.

Perfection has never defined courts of law. But because our courts are designed to be courts of justice, every court is expected to demonstrate a genuine sense of justice. To do this, a court of law must show critical thinking in its dissection of complex legal issues, properly evaluate evidence, co...

26/03/2026

BEHIND THE GLARE: REAL REASONS JUDGES BULLY LAWYERS IN NIGERIA

Bullying by judges hardly involves physical abuse or assault. This may be mostly due to the physical distance between the Bar and the Bench. Otherwise, the level of exasperation displayed by some judges could easily lead to some smacking/spanking in the absence of the distance hurdle! Nevertheless, from my study and over-a-decade experience in court, I realised that judicial bullying manifests in several other forms... Behind the glare, below are some of the reasons some judges bully lawyers.

As the Living Oracles of the Law wielding the power of life and death, some judges sometimes wear their pride on their sleeves. They take rather undue advantage of their status as the most powerful being in the courtroom to suppress lawyers appearing before them. In a recent statement, the Nigerian....

24/03/2026

DEAR SOWORE, THE COURT IS NOT A MARKET SQUARE

Nigerian politician and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, was recently seen in a trending video having a confrontational argument with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria inside the courtroom. The subject of controversy was that Sowore was attempting to grant an interview to members of the press inside the courtroom of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The Senior Counsel made efforts to stop Sowore and the press members from continuing with the interview. Sowore resisted. So too the members of the press who had insisted that the Senior Lawyer should explain the legal basis for attempting to stop the interview.

While the Senior Advocate tried to offer explanations touching on the status of the court, Sowore and the press crew would have none of that. They expressed the view that so long as the presiding judge was yet to enter the courtroom, they reserved the right to conduct the interview on the ground that the court is a public place. They contended that notwithstanding that the Senior Advocate was a lawyer with special privileges, other members of the public have special rights to attend court, sit in the gallery, and conduct press interviews as they may desire.

Every effort made by the Senior Advocate to discourage Sowore and the press members from conducting the interview was turned into a show of chaotic disorder and inciteful comments. This continued unabated until a court orderly was seen urging everyone involved to maintain decorum as she announced the imminent arrival of the judge.

But who is right, Sowore or the SAN?

Find out. Link in comments.

Nigerian politician and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, was recently seen in a trending video having a confrontational argument with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria inside the courtroom. The subject of controversy was that Sowore was attempting to grant an interview to members of the press insid...

23/03/2026

Reports say that Former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, was sentenced to 72 years in prison for N868.4m fraud.
He was said to have been convicted for 8 years on each of the 9 counts of the charge. This makes it 72 years in total...

But from the details, it was said that the Court ordered that the 8-year sentence on each of the 9 counts would run concurrently. This means that Mr. Nwabuoku will serve an aggregate of 8 years and not 72 years jail term as is being circulated.

22/03/2026

ELEGBE V. HP INTL SCHOOLS LTD: SUPREME COURT DECIDES JURISDICTION OF THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COURT IN DEFAMATION CASES

A recent decision emanating from the stables of the Supreme Court of Nigeria dwells on the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN or NIC) in defamation cases. This was in Elegbe & Anor. v. HP International Schools Limited & Ors (Suit No. SC/CV/899/2025) decided on 20 February 2026.

The Supreme Court, in discharging its duty as the policy-making court, sought to provide the necessary guide to assist lower courts in deciding issues of jurisdiction of the NICN vis-à-vis the State High Court on defamation cases. But whether the apex Court succeeded in providing the much-needed clarity as desired is left to be seen.

Quite an interesting case.

Link in comments.

19/03/2026

IGBINEDION SCHOOL INCIDENT: A CASE OF M@LICIOUS AGGR3SSION OR BULLLYING?

The Viciious Ass@ult

The trending video of the vicious ass@ult by two students of Igbinedion Education Centre on a fellow student is heartbreaking. Looking at the young people involved, you need to hold strong in order to attempt to soak in its effect on your mind.
The two students were identified as Choice Asoro and Dino Uyi. They unleashed their wr@th on their victim who was seen lying helplessly on the floor in an isolated room. From the short video, it was not clear how they lured or carried the boy there. The boy found himself in a place he'd certainly wish he never was. At some point in his torrid experience, I imagine he would wish he was never born.

As the victimm was feeling the direct heat of physical viol3nce on his body, he was heard pleading for mercy. Yet, his assailants’ hearts appeared to be made of stone. Like rocks by the river bank, their hearts stood firm, as all entreaties which fell on them like the waters from the stream did nothing to move or soften them.
While p@in was being inflicted on the poor victimm, he folded himself in like an amoeba, retracting and holding his head with the sole aim of surviving. But his attakcers delivered heavy blowz on his head with their arms and feet. They took turns to do this, while maintaining a fine composure with their immaculate white shirts and ties. Dino and Choice made the choice to have the incident recorded. It was obvious they were well-aware that a third-party, who was heard but remained unseen, was actively recording the distressing episode.

This unseen third party—apparently uncaring and mischievovs—seemingly tried to plead with Dino and Choice to stop the dehum@nizing act. But his hands were too busy making the recording as he found no use for them in attempting to take positive steps to stop the violenc3. To my mind, he is as gui!ty as those who actually ass@ulted the lad.

M@licious Aggr3ssion or Bul!ying?

So far, there is yet to be any information confirming that what transpired was indeed an act of bul!ying. Oftentimes, some people tend to mistake a clear isolated act of m@licious aggr3ssion with bul!ying.

Bu!lying is a form of viol3nt behaviour especially where it involves inflicting physical bodi!y h@rm. It also involves other forms of abvse—emotional or psychological.

While m@licious aggr3ssion could manifest in the form of a single physical viol3nt act of h@rmful intent, bul!ying is repeated. Thus, this is a significantly distinguishing factor about bul!ying. Studies have carefully revealed that bul!ying is associated with repetitive and intentional conduct. The aim is often to persistently and consistently cause the target—usually a less powerful person—social, emotional, or physical h@rm. It has been said that all bul!ying is a form of aggr3ssion, but not all aggreessive conducts are bul!ying. Bul!ying is defined by the three pillars of intent, imbalance, and repetition.

We are not aware if Dino and Choice have been in the habit of repeatedly abvsing their victim, physically, as was seen in the video, or in another way or manner and to a similar or lesser degree. All we know from the video was that particular incident. Therefore, out of mere misconception, we simply imagined that what we witnessed through the recording was an act of bul!ying. But that may not necessarily be the case until the investigation reveals that there was probably a pattern and repetition.
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To continue reading, check link in comments.

05/03/2026

Kim: Did they say US has hit North Korea?

Officers: No, they said US has hit North Area (in Iran)

😂

03/03/2026

False r**e accusation is both a crime and a civil wrong.

01/03/2026

May peace reign in our world!

26/02/2026

FALSE ACCUSATION OF R**E: ANY CRIMINAL CONSEQUENCE?

It's sometimes baffling that some of those who vigorously campaign against r**e do not want to hear of, or participate in any conversation relating to false r**e accusations... This clear bias seems like an intentional move to downplay the gravity of such conduct of making false r**e accusation. But without sentiments, the law is there for all—both victims of r**e and victims of false accusations of r**e.

Introduction R**e is a crime under Nigerian law. For many years, the offence of r**e in Nigeria was defined in the context of women only. Section 357 of the Criminal Code defines r**e as having unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman without lawful consent. Thus, the slightest pe*******on of a woman’...