1. I had to attend the Supreme Court Legal Year Opening on Monday, 23 September 2019 and only arrived Seoul for the IBA Conference (self-sponsored) in the evening of Wednesday, 25
September 2019. I therefore attended only the Thursday and Friday, 26/27 September 2019, sessions and events. On Thursday, I attended an early morning session on Consumer Protection which featured our own Yemi Akangbe, Lagos Branch Chairman, as one of the
Speakers. He made us very proud with his elucidation on the Nigerian Consumer Protection legislation and byelaws.
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Sep 30, 2019
Sep 29, 2019
OMOYELE SOWORE: NBA CONDEMNS THE DISOBEDIENCE OF COURT ORDER AND IMPUNITY BY DSS
By Legalnaija 5:59 AM
The Nigerian Bar Association has become
aware of the unfortunate and flagrant disobedience of the order of Hon. Mr. Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court sitting at Abuja directing the release on bail of Citizen Omoyele Sowore by the Department of State Security Service of Nigeria on the 24th of September, 2019, of which the bail terms have long been perfected by the detainee's counsel.
Sep 26, 2019
Sep 24, 2019
Former Young Lawyer Chairman, named Lawyer of the Year
By Legalnaija 12:14 AM
It was a night of bliss, a night of VVIPs as The Who and who gathered to a night of glamour as Charles Ajiboye, FICMC. , a result oriented lawyer of the future and Executive Partner at The Penthouse Law (an avant garde 21st century upwardly mobile multi service law firm) and Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja won the Prestigious TREK AFRICA LAWYER AWARD OF THE YEAR 2019.
NBA Ikeja Celebrates Its Members On Their Conferment as SAN
By Legalnaija 12:10 AM
It is with utmost joy that the Chairman, NBA Ikeja Branch, Prince Dele Oloke on behalf of the Executives and members celebrates her inspiring and worthy Excellent Members; Samuel Agweh,SAN, Emeka Ozoani,SAN and Olukayode Enitan,SAN on their conferment with the noble rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
It is indeed a hattrick for the branch worthy of celebration.
Congratulations!
Signed: Charles Ajiboye, FICMC
(Publicity Secretary)
Sep 23, 2019
How Small And Medium Enterprises (Sme) Can Protect Their Businesses – Part 1 | Linda Nnamani
By Legalnaija 9:05 AM
SME’s is believed to be
catalysts for economic growth and national development both in developing and
developed countries.
Nigeria as a developing
country has a host of opportunities to be tapped into and utilized by its
citizens. Majority of these has seized such opportunities to startup businesses
as a means of livelihood in order to ameliorate hardship in these volatile
economic times and also as an alternative to joblessness which is common in the
country; however, more often than not, people undermine the need and importance
of giving a legal protection to their businesses. A lot call themselves
business owners and entrepreneurs without giving their businesses the standard
legal protection that it needs, this trend is wrong and at times catastrophic.
Nigeria And The Right To Food | Eberechi May Okoh
By Legalnaija 8:45 AM
Following the President’s announcement last
month that Nigeria had attained food security, questions arose from several
quarters on food security in Nigeria. The underlying issue in any food security
discourse is that the right to food is and must be recognized as a human right protected by law.
Consequently, food
security is a human rights obligation, not simply a preference or policy
choice, or an aspirational goal.[1]
The first instrument setting out the right to food was the 1948 Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (“UDHR”).
Sep 9, 2019
Sep 6, 2019
Facing The Future Through Leadership and National Duty
By Legalnaija 10:28 AM
Lawyers
under the umbrella of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have renewed their
confidence in the leadership of Paul Usoro (SAN) as president. This was
demonstrated during the just concluded 59th Annual General Conference (AGC) of
the NBA with no fewer than 12,000 of them in attendance.
- Adelanwa Bamgboye - Daily
Trust
Sep 5, 2019
10 Reasons Why Lawyers Should Participate In The Art of Legal Advocacy Career Training
By Legalnaija 7:27 PM
1. The first reason is that the Modules of the training
are designed to empower every lawyer with the required skills to excel. Three of
the Modules focus on Dispute Resolution Mechanisms such as Litigation,
Arbitration and Mediation. Another module focuses on Legal Writing which all
lawyers must master while the 5th module is Forensic Document
Examination. Last but not the least, the Law Firm Profitability module will
teach lawyers how to become rainmakers and position their firms for high
profitability.
Same sex marriage and the effect on our upcoming generation
By Legalnaija 7:14 PM
Same-sex marriage (also
known as gay marriage) is the marriage of two people of the same sex or gender,
entered into in a civil or religious ceremony. There are records of same-sex
marriage dating back to the first century though there is no legal provision in
Roman Law, and it was banned in the Roman Empire in the fourth.
Enforcing Prenuptial Agreements In Nigeria | Adeniran Bukunmi
By Legalnaija 6:49 PM
1.0 INTRODUCTION.
Around the world there has been a growing trend for
intending couples to enter into prenuptial agreements in order to secure their
financial interests in the event of divorce. It is believed in many quarters
that a woman can avoid great heartache
in her oncoming marriage, if she agrees to sign a carefully considered
prenuptial agreement, that guards her right before entering into wed lock.
Rape In Nigeria: Should The Burden Of Proof Shift?
By Legalnaija 6:31 PM
Abstract
Nigeria
is a large and populous country with a lot of beliefs and superstitions. These
beliefs are largely fuelled and sustained through religion, societal views and
a sense of morality. These factors play a role in the attitude Nigerians have
towards certain issues, criminal issues especially.
Why Nigeria Isn't Ready For A Jury System | Njoku Augusta Chinweubam
By Legalnaija 6:30 PM
A
nation that is still being held captive by the unrelenting grip of corruption,
and is constantly plagued by political and economic instability, has no
business pursuing a Jury system. Nigeria is one such nation. A jury is a historic
legal institution in which a group of laypersons participate in deciding cases
brought to trial.
Sep 3, 2019
Register For Art of Legal Advocacy And Law Firm Profitability Training For Lawyers
By Legalnaija 3:30 PM
Excellent
advocacy skills and a sound knowledge of the business of law are necessary
skills mandatory for every lawyer desirous of attaining career success. This
training will instruct you on the skills required to advance your legal career
and position your law firm for high profitability in today's business eco
system.
This training will instruct you on all you need to advance your legal career
By Legalnaija 5:16 AM
#NBAAGC2019 #nbaconference #facingthefuture #NBA2019AGC #NBA2019AGC #nigerianlawyers #AOCLegal #AOCLegal #careertraining #lawyertraining
This training will instruct you on all you need to advance your legal career and position your firm for high profitability in today's business eco system.
The modules include - -
Litigation
-Arbitration
-Mediation
- Forensic Documents Examination
- Legal Writing
- Law Firm Profitability
You also get to learn from our Members of Faculty who are experts in these areas of legal practice, they include -
· Mr. Olabode Olanipekun SAN, Partner, Wole Olanipekun Co.
· Dr. Abiodun Osiyemi; President, Forensic Science Academy.
· Mr. FolaAlade ASCMA (UK); Principal Partner, Fotefa Partners.
· Dr. Chinua Asuzu, Dean, The Write House; Senior Partner, Assizes Law Firm.
· Miss Busola Ajala , CEO, Strictly Law Business.
· Mr. Tolu Aderemi LLM (Netherlands), Partner, Pearchstone & Graeys
Other details are -
Theme: “The Art of Legal Advocacy”
Date: 26th and 27th September, 2019
Time: 9am – 5pm daily
Duration of Class: 2hrs each
Venue: Neca House, Hakeem Balogun Street, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos
Registration Details
Fee per delegate - N60,000
Early Bird (Ends September, 5, 2019) - N40,000
We look forward to welcoming you as the sessions promise to be impactful and help put you well on the way to achieving your career goals.
For registration details, please call Lawlexis on +2348055424566; +2349095635314 or email lawlexisinternational@gmail.com or follow this link - https://paystack.com/pay/Lawlexis
#NBAAGC2019 #nbaconference #facingthefuture #NBA2019AGC #NBA2019AGC #nigerianlawyers #AOCLegal #AOCLegal #careertraining #lawyertraining
Sep 2, 2019
NBA Introduces Travel Policy
By Legalnaija 12:18 PM
NIGERIAN
BAR ASSOCIATION
NBA
TRAVEL RETIREMENT POLICY – APPLICABLE TO THE MACARTHUR
FOUNDATION PROJECT AND OTHER NBA-RELATED TRAVELS
1. Travel and
Subsistence
NBA recognizes the need for
travels in the course of executing and meeting the objectives of the MacArthur
Foundation Project and its other functions. Travel and subsistence needs may
arise for members of staff from conferences, domestic trainings and meetings.
Consequently, NBA acknowledges the need to allocate and release travel funds
for all reasonable expenses.
ADR In Criminal Litigation: An Abomination Or Necessary Evil | Nonso Nonso Anyasi
By Legalnaija 9:27 AM
The
picture of a purported settlement agreement executed between an alleged
offender and the parents of a fourteen year old girl who was defiled has been
making the rounds on Social Media, with many lawyers and PUBLIC commentators condemning
the said settlement agreement which was presided over by Office of the
Commissioner of Police of Rivers State.
Satire: The Arrest and Detention of Sowore | Ibukunoluwa Idris
By Legalnaija 8:05 AM
IN
THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF A DEMOCRATIC STATE
IN
THE IMAGINARY JUDICIAL DIVISION
HOLDEN
AT THE NEW NIGERIA
SUIT
NO: DFHC/999/2019
BETWEEN
PATRIOTIC
CITIZENS
OMOYELE
SOWORE APPLICANTS
AND
1.
THE HOPEFUL DEMOCRATIC STATE
2.
ALL CITIZENS’ SECURITY AGENCIES
3.
ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CITIZENS RESPONDENTS
FINAL
WRITTEN ADDRESS
Payment Service Banks in Nigeria (PSBS): A Review of the Proposed Guidelines for Licensing and Regulation by the CBN
By Legalnaija 5:10 AM
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by its letter dated 5th October 2018, written to all banks, telecommunication companies, mobile money operators, banking agents and the Nigerian Communication Commission, circulated draft guidelines and regulations of Payment Service Banks in Nigeria (PSB) for comments and observations.
Banks as Collecting Agents For FIRS – A Conundrum | Ifeatu Medidem
By Legalnaija 4:35 AM
The Federal Inland Revenue Service has intensified its drive to recover outstanding tax liabilities from taxpayers in default of tax obligations. To this end, FIRS has been writing to taxpayers’ bankers, appointing the banks’ agent of the banks’ customer, to collect outstanding tax liabilities from the taxpayers’ bank account balance. This is referred to as tax substitution.

Section 31 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007 provides:
- The Service may by notice in writing appoint any person to be the agent of a taxable person if the circumstances provided in sub-section (2) of this section makes it expedient to do so.
- The agent appointed under sub-section (1) of this section may be required to pay any tax payable by the taxable person from any money which may be held by the agent of the taxable person
- Where the agent referred to in subsection (2) of this section defaults, the tax shall be recoverable from him.
- For the purposes of this section, the Service may require any person to give information as to any money, fund or other assets which may be held by him for, or of any money due from him to, any person.
- The provisions of this Act with respect to objections and appeals shall apply to any notice given under this section as if such notice were an assessment.”
Section 49 of the Companies and Income Tax Act, 2007 also empowers the FIRS to collect tax due from companies and appoint agents to collect tax due from companies, thus:
“The Board may by notice in writing appoint any person to be the agent of any company and the person so declared the agent shall be the agent of such company for the purposes of this Act, and may be required to pay any tax which is or will be payable by the company from any monies which may be held by him for or due by or to become due by him to the company whose agent he has been declared to be, and in default of such payment, the tax shall be recovered from him”.

The banks, probably concerned about compliance and cooperation with government agencies are quite swift to comply with the directives. Some valued customers are lucky to receive some notification, prior to the bank’s execution of FIRS’ directives; others, not so much.
Understandably, given how difficult it often is to recover outstanding debts from recalcitrant debtors, it may not be so surprising that FIRS devised this strategy. But the appointment of banks as collecting agents has stoked several fundamental issues in relation to the propriety or otherwise of the action. Chief of which, is the constitutionality of FIRS’ appointment of banks as collecting agents to collect and remit outstanding tax liabilities of taxpayers, without court orders. This is beside the conversation around the hardship that may be occasioned the taxpayer who has had its bank account restricted, particularly where it turns out that the restriction is unjustifiable.
However, a salient issue that seems to have eluded discussion is the query, “Is a bank legally enabled to act as collecting agent to collect outstanding tax liabilities from its customers’ bank account(s) on behalf of the FIRS?”
FIRS’ Appointment of A Bank As A Collecting Agent Imposes a Mandatory Responsibility
On a cursory reading of the provisions of Section 31(3) FIRS Establishment Act and Section 49 of the Companies Income Tax Act, it may appear that the provisions create an ordinary principal/agent relationship between FIRS and the appointed collecting agent. By principles of law, an agency relationship presumes a payment obligation between the principal and the agent. This is not the case with tax substitution, because the appointed/declared agent is the agent of the taxpayer and not FIRS.
The provisions of Section 31(3) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007 and Section 49 of the Companies and Income Tax Act, 2007 impose a mandatory responsibility on the Bank appointed as collecting agent, rather than a commission earning activity. By these provisions, where the FIRS appointed Bank fails to remit the outstanding tax liability from the taxpayers’ funds in its custody, such bank would be personally liable to FIRS for the tax payer’s outstanding liability. This certainly places the banks between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Banks Owe A Duty Of Confidentiality/Secrecy To Their Customers With Some Exceptions
A pressing issue for concern, as to the propriety of the banks’ appointment as collecting agents for FIRS, is the unavoidable breach of a bank’s fiduciary duty to its customer. This issue has raised a lot of hue and cry, over FIRS’ appointment of banks as collecting agents over their customers’ outstanding tax liabilities.

- Where the bank has a duty to the public to do so.
- Where the bank’s own interest requires disclosure: – This occurs for example, where legal proceedings are required to enforce the repayment of an overdraft or where a surety has to be told the extent to which his guarantee is being relied upon.
- Where the bank has the express or implied consent of its customer to do so: – where he supplies a reference to its customer or where it replies to a status inquiry from another bank.
- Where disclosure is required by law.
FIRS’ appointment of banks as collecting agents in respect of the bank’s customer’s outstanding tax liability, ostensibly falls under the exception (d) above; given the provisions of Section 31(3) FIRS Establishment Act and Section 49 of the Companies Income Tax Act.
Yet, the manner in which the banks typically respond, with swift compliance, undeniably raises issues of conflict of interest and breach of the bank’s fiduciary duty to its customer. The banks’ compliance with the directives imposed by the FIRS, against ‘tax defaulters’ (customers of the banks) involves a glaring breach of the duty.
A bank cannot perform the obligations of tax substitution, without impairing the confidential obligation it owes its customers. This confidentiality obligation is the pillar of banking.
Clearly, the banks, as collecting agents for FIRS, are conflicted, in that they are torn between complying with directives of FIRS, a government agency; and fulfilling their obligations to their customers.
There is however no positive law to safeguard the relationship between a bank and its customers. It is advisable that banks tread with caution, and take steps to secure their position.
Banks As Collecting Agents For FIRS – Possible Safeguards
In light of the foregoing, where a bank is faced with tax substitution directives from FIRS, the bank may rely on Section 31(5) FIRS Establishment Act to protect itself. The bank ought to take into consideration that as with all tax assessments and notices, a taxpayer has the right to object or appeal.
Banks rather than rushing to comply with FIRS’ directives, should ensure that adequate inquiries are made, to confirm that the notice in respect of a taxpayer relates to a tax liability that is final, due and outstanding.

Final Word
Pending the interpretation of the Courts on the constitutionality of FIRS’ powers to appoint a tax payer’s banker as its agent to collect outstanding tax liabilities from the tax payer’s bank account, taxpayers are best advised to take steps to comply with statutory requirements to compute and remit their outstanding tax obligations. Where however the taxpayer has already had its bank accounts restricted under FIRS’ directives, it would be prudent to seek professional counsel to explore resolution mechanisms best suited to the peculiar circumstances.
FIRS’ appointment of banks as collecting agents in respect of the banks’ customers’ outstanding tax liability, places the banks in the precarious position of potentially impairing the confidentiality obligation owed to customers. Banks are also exposed to legal action, particularly where the tax liability is disputed. It is the writer’s view that a bank should consider all possible options to secure its position, in addressing the mandatory obligation imposed by FIRS’ appointment to act as collecting agents from its customer’s bank accounts.
The banks are also at liberty to test their appointment by FIRS, as collecting agents, pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007 and Section 49 of the Companies and Income Tax Act, 2007. A determination by the Courts would certainly bring welcome development to our jurisprudence.
Besides, there is the danger of taking the now largely banked economy a few steps back. Individuals and business organizations may refuse to bank, for fear of having their funds subjected to seizure without recourse to them, or to avoid having their financial activities monitored, or to maintain their financial privacy.
Tax evasion is a criminal offence under the law. FIRS may choose to lay more emphasis on prosecuting offenders as a deterrent to intending tax evaders. It is quite commendable that FIRS is actively widening the tax net, particularly with the proposed imposition of 5% value-added tax on lottery and gambling activities.