ARBITRATION LAW AND PRACTICE IN NIGERIA

About the Book

Arbitration Law and Practice in Nigeria provides a comprehensive and practical examination of arbitration under Nigerian law, with particular focus on the Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023 and the evolving jurisprudence of the Nigerian courts. The book takes the reader through the entire arbitral process, beginning with the formation, validity, scope and enforceability of arbitration agreements, and progressing through arbitrability, commencement of proceedings, constitution of arbitral tribunals, court intervention, stays of proceedings, anti-suit and anti-arbitration injunctions, limitation law, and the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards. It also examines the increasingly important challenges arising after an award, including post-arbitral litigation and appeals, drawing on comparative approaches from leading arbitration jurisdictions. Combining statutory analysis, judicial authorities, comparative jurisprudence and practical guidance, the book seeks to bridge the gap between the theory and practice of arbitration. It is designed to serve as a valuable reference for judges, arbitrators, legal practitioners, corporate counsel, academics, students and commercial organisations engaged in dispute resolution. At its core, the book is a contribution to the continued development of arbitration as an effective, efficient and credible mechanism for the resolution of commercial disputes in Nigeria and an instrument for strengthening confidence in Nigeria as a destination for domestic and international arbitration.

About the Author

‘Kemi Pinheiro, OFR, SAN, LLD, FCIArb is the Founding Partner of Pinheiro LP, a leading full-service law firm. He is a distinguished graduate of the University of Benin, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. He was elevated to the Inner Bar as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2006. Kemi’s interest in arbitration extends far beyond professional practice. He has consistently contributed to the development of arbitration jurisprudence through scholarship, professional education and policy discourse. He has also had the privilege to have been appointed as Arbitrator by the International Chamber of Commerce and acted as Lead Counsel in International and Local Arbitration proceedings, as well as a Sole Arbitrator in Domestic arbitration proceedings. As the author of Arbitration Law and Practice in Nigeria, he brings together decades of practical experience, judicial insight and academic research to provide a comprehensive and authoritative treatment of arbitration under Nigerian law. The work examines arbitration not merely as an alternative to litigation but as a sophisticated system of commercial justice designed to promote party autonomy, procedural efficiency, confidentiality and the effective resolution of disputes in an increasingly interconnected global economy. Kemi’s scholarly engagements have been presented at different fora, including but not limited to the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria Branch), the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, Continuing Legal Education Committee, the Commercial Law Development Services, and several other professional, judicial, and academic platforms. His notable scholarly works relevant to this publication includes but not limited to ‘Arbitration Process in Nigeria; Legal Drafting of Arbitration Agreements’, ‘Enforcement and Setting Aside of Arbitral Awards and Grounds for Setting Aside Awards’; ‘From Dispute Resolution to Conflict Management: Opportunities for Alternative Dispute Resolution in Business.’ Collectively, these scholarly contributions reflect his enduring commitment to advancing arbitration practice, strengthening advocacy, promoting commercial justice and enhancing the effectiveness of dispute resolution mechanisms in Nigeria. His enduring contributions to the development of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, commercial jurisprudence, and the administration of justice have contributed to his experience in contemporary arbitration law and practice.