Land Registry fees will increase on 6 July 2009. A new Land Registry fee order has been published, increasing fees across the board for registration and information services from 6 July. The Land Registry is required to recover from its fees and c...

It is proposed that the rule against perpetuities should no longer apply to property transactions, but only for those entered into after the law has changed.   A Perpetuities and Accumulations Bill has been published and underwent its second re...

The Land Registry is changing its practice on the discharge of mortgages in cases where form DS1 is not available when the application is made to the Land Registry. On 3 August 2009, the Land Registry will implement an important change in practice ...

...

Introduction The “No” vote by the people of Scotland to Scottish Independence removes some elements of uncertainty from the political and economic landscape in Scotland.  Nevertheless, the narrow margin of the vote against independe...

The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement contained the following stamp duty land tax announcement regarding the tax-free ...

This week, an Advocate General gave a landmark opinion that the VAT exemption for the management of certain special investment funds can apply to property management, as well as to other fund management services. The opinion represents a completely ...

...

On the 15 October 2019 the government published its consultation on the future trajectory of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard for commercial properties under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 ...

HEALTH AND SAFETY In the courts - cameras to broadcast from the Crown Court for the first time The government has announced new legislation which will permit the sentencing remarks of High Court and senior judges in certain criminal cases to be film...

There have been many examples of high profile health and safety incidents in recent years, including major rail disasters, the serious incident at Alton Towers and of course the tragedy at Grenfell Tower. These have rightly received high profile, wi...

ENVIRONMENT Long Awaited Environment Bill Back in Parliament The UK Environment Bill seeks to deliver “the most ambitious environmental programme of any country on earth” by setting a “gold standard” for environmental protect...

...

On 6 February 2020, the Government published the Street and Road Works (Amendments Relating to Electronic Communications) (England) Regulations 2020, which come into force on 1 April 2020. The Regulations support the delivery and implementation of &...

  HEALTH & SAFETY So what now? Where low occupancy poses water-borne risks Most organisations during this pandemic have rightly focused on the health and safety of employees and the general public in tackling the spread of the virus. Whilst...

A document seen by SaharaReporters has exposed how serving and retired Nigerian judges are illegally preparing ways for their children and relatives to take over the country’s judicial system in future.

According to the document put together by Open Bar Initiative, out of the 33 names recently recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari by the National Judiciary Council for appointment as judges in the Federal Capital Territory High Court, only 11 met the criteria set out in the employment guideline of the council.

The NJC had on April 26, 2020 approved the appointment of 33 judges for the FCT High Court.

SaharaReporters gathered that 22 out of the 33 candidates presented to President Buhari made the list only because they were related to serving senior members of the judiciary or close aides and members of the NJC. 

Also, states that already have judges in the FCT High Court were reconsidered and given slots while no one was considered qualified for appointment in Ebonyi, a state that has no existing judge.

Section 255 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), pegged qualification for becoming a judge in the High Court of the FCT to a minimum of 10 years qualification as a legal practitioner. 

Also Rule 4 of the NJC appointment of judges’ procedure, indicated only four classes of lawyers, who are qualified to apply and be recommended to be appointed as judges of a high court.

These are legal practitioners in private practice, legal practitioners in public service, who are legal officers, chief registrar of a court, and chief magistrates.

Those listed in the document seen by SaharaReporters among the 33 nominees to be considered as judges by President Buhari but, who are not qualified include Njideka K. Nwosu-Iheme, a Grade 1 Magistrate, who is the daughter of Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court and daughter-in-law to Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the Court of Appeal, Agashieze Cyprian Odinaka, a Deputy Director at FCTA whose sister is the Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State, Fatima Abubakar Aliyu, a judiciary worker, who is the daughter of immediate-past President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Bulkachuwa, Kanyip Rosemary Indinya, a senior magistrate at FCT and wife of the President of the National Industrial Court and sister of a member of the National Judicial Council.

Others are Mimi Anne Katsina Alu-Apena, a senior magistrate and daughter of late Kastina Alu, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Enenche Eleojo, Assistant Director at FCT High Court and Personal Assistant to the Chief Judge, FCT High Court, Madugu Mohammed Alhaji, Josephine Obanor Enobie, Kayode Agunloye, Nwabulu Ngozika Chineze and Abubakar Babashani, who are senior staff of the FCT High Court but have not attained the rank of chief registrar as stipulated by the constitution.

The list also includes one one Aliyu Halilu Ahmed, a Deputy Chief Registrar from Adamawa State judiciary, who has not attained the rank of a chief registrar.

The rest are Aminu Muhammad Abdullahi, Nwecheonwu Chinyere Elewe, Ibrahim Mohammed, Sadia Mu’azu Mayana, Aliyu Yunusa Shafa, Mohammed Zubairu, Binta Dogonyaro, Christopher Opeyemi Oba and Hafsat Lawan Abba-Aliyu, all magistrates from the FCT judiciary, who are not up to the rank of a chief magistrate as stipulated in Rule 4 of the NJC appointment of judges procedure.

SaharaReporters also gathered that one Olufola Olufolashade Oshin did not participate in the processes leading up to selection, interview or obtaining recommendation from a Chief Judge of a state but her name was inserted into the final list transmitted to President Buhari at the instigation of some senior judicial officers believed to be top members of the Supreme Court.

Reacting to the development, Open Bar Initiative said, “The suggestion that judicial service in Nigeria is an inheritance transmitted from parents to children is not supported by the constitution or any other instrument under Nigerian law. 

“This is an abuse of the constitution by those who must nominate judges for appointment.”

Co-convener of Open Bar Initiative and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission in Nigeria, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, while reacting to the situation, said, “These are not just unqualified nominees, they are bad nominees because only bad people will want to become judges through smuggling. They will make bad judges, we should resist them and their sponsors.”

Voicing his displeasure on Twitter, a user with the handle @AbdulMahmud01, said, “Have you seen the list of newly appointed FCT judges approved by NJC? It is a parade of children of former CJN, retired Supreme Court justices and judges. NJC is simply put: a corrupt council of corrupt interests.”

Another user, @KennyAdazie, while sharing her thoughts on the issue, said, “The only people that can take back Nigeria are the youth. 

“If we don’t come out to stop this madness, the charade will continue. When they strategically place their own, they pave way for #impunities and come 2023, there is nothing you can do! The reason our legal system is in ruins.”

Eversheds Sutherland has announced 38 partner promotions across its global network. A total of 16 of these promotions are female which is in line with its goal to achieve 30% female representation at partner level by 2021.  In Asia, we are plea...

Eversheds Sutherland announces that it has made 38 partner promotions across its International and Europe network. A total of 16 of these promotions are female which is in line with its goal to achieve 30% female representation at partner level by 2...

The Courts Service has initiated a pilot virtual hearing programme (“Pilot Programme”), with Courts of a number of jurisdictions participating, in light of the ongoing nationwide Covid-19 restrictions. It is anticipated that, following c...

Eversheds Sutherland has advised the CEO and owner of saracus group on the sale of the group to an investment fund managed by private equity investor Maxburg Capital Partners. The parties agreed to keep the purchase price confidential. The client w...

The stay on debt collection proceedings will end on 22 April 2020. The Federal government adopted emergency law on 16 April 2020, in order to prevent coronavirus-related bankruptcies and the resulting job losses. The “COVID-19 Insolvency Ordin...

Update | 23. 4. 2020: The Parliament passed the act on certain measures to mitigate the effects of the SARS CoV-2 coronavirus epidemic on tenants of business premises. The new act will be effective once signed by the President and published in the C...

When might turnover rent be relevant? Entering into a commercial lease has always been a significant financial commitment by a tenant for a fixed period with no guarantee of trade and/or profit. Over the last number of years landlords have had signi...

The Government introduced tax reliefs and extended deadlines The Government decided on the tax reliefs previously announced, postponing the deadlines in connection with the annual report to 30 September. The payment of health services contribution b...

A number of measures have been introduced in Ireland in recent weeks in light of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Irish Revenue has also published a number of welcome guidelines and confirmations in an attempt to mitigate any detrimental effects...

Coronavirus restrictions are causing significant ongoing disruption and difficulties for employers, pension trustees, administrators and providers. To assist our clients during these unprecedented times, we are introducing a weekly pensions clinic. ...

This week marks another critical juncture in the ongoing fight against the economic challenges presented by the COVID-19 crisis. With the jobs retention scheme portal now open for applications since Monday 20 April 2020, many businesses and employer...

Eversheds Sutherland advised Optimas OE Solutions on the sale of part of its French business relating to certain industrial customers to Accursia Capital GmbH. This transaction took place in the context of the sale of other distinct parts of the Opt...

The pandemic has significantly hindered conducting stationary sale of goods and services. Many companies decide to change their business models and transfer their activities to the Internet, establishing new e-shops or developing the current ones. I...

Judicial recess in Jordan usually takes place annually during the months of July and August however due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the Jordanian Judicial Council (“JJC”) and the Jordanian Bar Association (“JBA”) anno...

Eversheds Sutherland El Heni is the only law firm in Tunisia that has been nominated top tier in all  practice areas Foreign Firm, Banking & Finance, Commercial/Corporate/M&A by international independent law firm directory, The Legal 50...

Chambers & Partners, an independent editorial and research team recently published the latest editions of Chambers Global and Chambers Europe legal guides. We are proud to announce that Eversheds Sutherland Ots & Co has again been highly...

The coronavirus pandemic has put health systems, workplaces and the economy under enormous strain. At the same time, employers are looking ahead in the expectation that the Government will permit them to gradually lift their containment measures wit...

Eversheds Sutherland advises Glennmont on the sale of a minority stake in 211MW Finnish wind project Eversheds Sutherland has advised Glennmont Partners on its agreed sale of a 15% minority stake in Project Piiparinmäki, a 211.4MW wind farm, to...

Eversheds Sutherland has again been listed as a top law firm in this year's edition of the Swiss business magazine Bilanz / Le Temps in the following areas: Banking and Capital markets Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) Liability law International...

Two recent cases demonstrate the efficacy of existing restructuring regimes under Irish company law and more particularly that the Courts in Ireland are receptive and efficient in approving and implementing large multi-jurisdictional restructuring s...

On April 15, Independent international research publication, the Legal 500 released the Europe, Middle East & Africa results of 2020. All of Eversheds Sutherland Ots & Co partners were ranked, including partners Maivi Ots, Tambet Toomela and...

Eversheds Sutherland has announced two changes to its senior management team in Germany. The global law firm has appointed Dr. Alexander Niethammer as new Managing Partner of its German office, while Hamburg-based Partner, Dr. Carola Rathke, takes u...

Eversheds Sutherland were delighted to partner with Women in ETFs for a one hour webinar 'Navigating Lockdown and Beyond - Practical steps to support ourselves and others through a unique time' on 30 April. The presentation was delivered by Á...

Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Partner in the fields of data protection and IT law. As an attorney and 2012 certified Senior Project Manager IPMA Level B, Markus Naef advises companies on legal safeguards and ex...

We acted as legal advisor when the shareholders of Oy Basso Media Ltd. sold all shares of Oy Basso Media Ltd. to Bauer Media Holding Oy. Other financial arrangements were also carried out in connection with the transaction. Basso Media will continue...

In connection with the spread of Covid-19, extensive crisis measures have been announced in the Czech Republic with a major impact on all business activities nationwide. Below we provide answers to frequently asked questions, especially in the area ...

On 28 April 2020, the Russian President issued Decree No. 294 On Prolonging Measures To Ensure Sanitary and Epidemiological Wellbeing of the Population in the Russian Federation due to the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The following da...

Commercial Court – a return to action? On 4 May 2020, the Commercial Court Judge in Northern Ireland, the Honourable Mr Justice Horner, circulated an update to legal professionals stating clearly that the Commercial ‘Hub’ is open f...

Welcome to this special COVID-19 edition of our quarterly Global Employment and Labor Law Update which you can find HERE Please do not hesitate to contact us if you wish to find out more....

Businesses across the world are suffering a variety of different losses as a result of the spread of, and public reaction to, coronavirus.  The answer to the question of whether these losses will be covered by your insurance policies is, as wit...

The UK has suffered widespread damage as a result of recent flooding over the winter of 2019/20, with anticipated losses in excess of £400m. If flood-related interruption to a business is significant, property and business interruption (“BI”) polici...

On 1 May, the FCA issued two sets of draft guidance which will be important reading for all firms involved in insurance arrangements and particularly insurers, intermediaries and premium finance lenders. As it considers that the delay involved in co...

By Fan Lulu and Boy Luethje HONOLULU (July 31, 2019)—With more than 800 million Internet users, China has become the global leader in e-commerce—the buying and selling of products and services online. Taobao (roughly “treasure hunt” in English) is the leading Chinese online shopping and e-commerce website, founded by the Alibaba Group. As of 2018, more than 580 million active users visited Taobao and its sister website Tmall every month.

This is a summary only. Click the title for the full article, or visit www.EastWestCenter.org/Research-Wire for more.

By Sherry P. Broder HONOLULU (August 28, 2019)—Since the 1950s when plastics were first produced, more than 150 million tons of plastic debris have accumulated in the world’s oceans. Marine plastic litter includes large items, such as nets, floats, and other fishing debris, plus tiny microplastic particles that are pervasive and practically invisible to the naked eye—but equally harmful. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that more than 35 percent of all the primary plastics that end up in the oceans are microplastics and that most of these tiny particles originate from textiles. Ingestion of plastic particles by fish, bivalves, and other seafood is particularly concerning for humans, in part because little is known about the pesticides that are...

This is a summary only. Click the title for the full article, or visit www.EastWestCenter.org/Research-Wire for more.