Lawyers warn court delays and weak contract enforcement could deter investors

Summary

Legal and business leaders warned that inconsistent contract enforcement, slow commercial disputes and questionable ex parte orders could make investors avoid long-term bets in Nigeria.

Highlights

• The warning was raised at the third annual Multi-Door Courthouses and Alternative Dispute Resolution Stakeholders Summit in Lagos on October 19 and 20.
• Charles Adeyemi Candide-Johnson said capital goes where it is safe, not just where profits are possible.
• Other speakers pointed to weak contract enforcement, inconsistent government policies and unpredictable dispute resolution as barriers to investment.
• Bode Olanipekun said prolonged commercial disputes can affect both returns on investment and the risk of losing capital.
• Margaret Olele warned that regulatory inconsistency and breaches of contractual commitments could push companies to reconsider staying in the country.