LEGISLATION
Treaties
Is your country party to any bilateral or multilateral treaties for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments? What is the country’s approach to entering into these treaties and what if any amendments or reservations has your country made to such treaties?
At present, Nigeria is not a signatory to any multilateral or bilateral treaties for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. Foreign judgments are enforced in Nigeria by virtue of the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act, Chapter F35, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (the 2004 Act) and the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Act 1922, Chapter 175, Laws of the Federation and Lagos 1958 (the 1958 Act). Section 3, Part 1 of the 2004 Act (which contains provisions for the registration of foreign judgments) provides that where the Minister of Justice of the Federation of Nigeria is satis fied that in the event of the benefits conferred by Part 1 of the 2004 Act being extended to judgments given in the superior courts of any foreign country, substantial reciprocity of treatment will be assured with regard to the enforcement in that foreign country of judgments made by a superior court in Nigeria.