January 19, 2021
KMO LEGAL NEWSLETTER – JANUARY 2021 (VOL.1)
EXTENT OF LIABILITY IN THE EXECUTION OF BANK REFERENCE FORMS
By Felix Ayem (Associate)
Introduction
One of the criteria for opening a current account in any Bank in Nigeria, is the requirement that at least two referees must recommend the prospective account holder to the Bank. The Referees are expected to execute Reference Forms recommending the persons believed to be well known to them.
Reference Forms of different banks contain some conditions conspicuously written on them. The purpose of executing Reference Forms by Referees however appears to be a mere act of introducing persons whom, in their estimation, are reputable and capable of operating or maintaining current accounts with the Bank without more. However, there is a recent practice on the part of some Banks in Nigeria to attempt to hold referees liable where a customer defaults in the payment of a loan facility obtained in the in the ordinary course of his banking relationship.
In this article, emphasis is on the extent of the liability of Referees in executing Reference Forms. Can a Referee be held liable for all subsequent action of the referenced customer particularly in the event of default in repayment of a loan facility as described above? In other words, does a mere reference of a customer as a fit and proper person to operate a current account with a Bank translate to a guarantee agreement between the Referee and the Bank?
December 21, 2020
KMO LEGAL NEWSLETTER – DECEMBER 2020 (VOL.2)
DISPUTE RESOLUTION UNDER THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA (AfCFTA) AGREEMENT
By Ruth Nwankwo (Associate)
Nigeria has ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement which will come into effect on 1st January 2021 following the approval of the Federal Executive Council. This is after more than a year Nigeria became a signatory to the Agreement on 7th July 2019. The reason for the cold feet shown by Nigeria towards the ratification of the Agreement is to ensure the protection of Nigerian Industries.1 There was much deliberations and consultations with trade and industry stakeholders on the threats the operation of the Agreement may present such as the rise in smuggling, import surge arising from trade liberalisation without corresponding growth in export of Nigerian products and the fear of Nigeria turning into a “dumping ground” for non-African goods.2
The AfCFTA Agreement portend a good omen for Africa because of its objectives which include the creation of a single market for goods and services, facilitation of investments, enhancing competitiveness of the economies of State Parties etc.3 The Agreement seeks a progressive elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade in goods, liberalisation of trade in services, cooperation on investment, intellectual property rights, competition policy, trade-related areas, custom matters, establishment of a dispute settlement mechanism amongst others.4
An assessment conducted by the Economic Commission for Africa5 reports that AfCFTA will be a game changer for stimulating intra-African trade which is projected to increase by between 15% and 25% depending on liberalization efforts in 2040 compared to a situation with no AfCFTA in place The more ambitious the liberalisation of trade, the greater the expansion. This expansion will be most pronounced in industrial sectors thereby providing great opportunities to industrialize through trade.6
December 15, 2020
KMO LEGAL NEWSLETTER – DECEMBER 2020 (VOL. 1)
AN OVERVIEW OF THE BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ACT 2020
By Akorede Folarin (Associate)
The amendment and replacement of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2004, has long been touted to be the next major milestone in the country’s ambitious drive towards creating an enabling business environment in the country and improving the Nigerian investment climate.
The now repealed Act had been in operation for about 16 years without amendment, despite progressive innovations in the banking and finance sector globally and the increasing complexities as a result of disruptive technologies and their associated risks. Also, lax corporate governance under the old Act had given room for insider abuse and corruption, culminating in the humongous increase in non-performing loans (NPLs) in the country’s banking system. Additionally, the erosion of faith in the Nigerian banking system as a result of the 2004 and 2008 financial crises which can be traced to the excessive risk taking, reckless credit facilities, and other unethical practices in the system had resulted in the long and growing public clamour by stakeholders for the review of the regulatory framework for banking and finance in Nigeria.
The enactment of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020 is, therefore, intended to update the existing Act to tackle some of these debilitating challenges in the Nigerian banking and financial services industry occasioned by an Act which has proved to be grossly inadequate in the present ecosystem and to bring it in line with global best practices. The Act seeks to regulate banking and businesses of other financial institutions by prohibiting the carrying on of such businesses in Nigeria except under license and by a company incorporated in Nigeria; update laws governing Banks, Financial Institutions and Financial Services Companies; enhance efficiency in the process of obtaining/granting banking licenses; accurately delineate the regulatory functions of the Central Bank of Nigeria (“the Bank” / “CBN”) in the financial services industry; update and incorporate the laws for enacting, licensing and regulating microfinance banks; regulate the activities of financial technology companies (Fin-Techs); and update commensurate penalties for regulatory breaches in the financial services sector.
The key provisions of the new Act are highlighted as follows:
BANKING BUSINESS
Operating without License
- The Act makes it an offense for any person/body to transact banking business without a valid license issued by the CBN. The Act goes further to provide a stiff penalty of 5 years imprisonment or a fine not less than N50 million or two times the cumulative deposits or other amount collected or both imprisonment and fine for anyone who violates this provision. This we expect will serve as a deterrent to operators of Ponzi schemes who swindle naïve investors through fraudulent means. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) itself has previously iterated that widespread innovation in channels for delivering financial services, emergence of new types of regulated institutions, advancements in supervisory techniques and methodologies are some of the contemporary developments that necessitate the need to upscale the legal framework for banking regulation and supervision in Nigeria.
October 15, 2020
HIGHLIGHTS ON THE EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL, 2020**
By Michael Ezeh and Latifat Moradeyo (Associates)
Although, the primary target of the COVID 19 pandemic is public health, its impact on the global economies is quite calamitous and unprecedented. Business process functions across most industries are severely deterred due to the immense pressure resulting from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, therefore, many multinationals, complex and business-critical services running a global scale as well as the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) must be reassessed to meet the realities of our time. Countries around the world have put in place monetary and fiscal measures to cushion the hardship of the deadly virus on businesses, individuals, and households.
In a bid to cushion the effect of the COVID- 19 pandemic, the House of Representatives on the 24th March, 2020 passed the Emergency Economic Stimulus Bill, 2020 (“the Bill”). According to Section 1 of the Bill, the objectives of the Bill are as follows:
- To provide temporary relief to companies and individuals and alleviate the adverse financial consequences of a slowdown in economic activities as a result of Covid-19;
- To protect the employment status of Nigerians who might otherwise become unemployed;
- To provide a moratorium on mortgage obligations for individuals;
- To eliminate additional fiscal bottleneck on the importation of medical equipment, medicines, personal protection equipment, etc.; and
- To cater to the general wellbeing of Nigerians pending the eradication of the pandemic and a return to economic stability.
The Bill provides for three relief which are; reduction of income tax liability of an employer, waiver of import duty on medicines and medical goods and deferral of mortgage payments to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria for a fixed term.
September 26, 2020
MEDICO-LEGAL PRACTICE IN NIGERIA: BALANCING THE RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF PATIENTS AND MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS. **
By Mercy Agbo (Associate)
Introduction
The COVID 19 pandemic has put the world today on a standstill. Businesses and human activities have been put on hold for the life of mankind to be preserved. It is safe to say that health practitioners especially, medical doctors are at the forefront of this battle and there is need to preserve a continuous and friendly relationship between them and patients. It is established law that doctors owe a sacrosanct medical duty of care to their patients which requires a high degree of skill and competence; otherwise, liability for medical negligence may arise. However, given certain circumstances, it is not easily determinable when negligence is said to have arisen as instanced where due to the COVID 19 pandemic, most doctors may be scared and decide not to attend to sick persons especially those who show symptoms of the virus, where a patient dies in the course of being treated or out of improper diagnosis by the doctor or hospital.
This article, therefore, tends to answer the posers: whether a medical doctor can refuse to treat a patient? Whether the patients have any right? Whether a medical doctor or a hospital can be liable for negligence? by focusing on the duties and responsibilities of medical practitioners vis a vis the rights of patients with a discuss on medical negligence, its elements and remedial actions that can be brought up in the case of a breach.
May 23, 2020
KMO LEGAL NEWSLETTER – MAY 2020 (VOL. 2)
DEBT RELIEF/FORGIVENESS: A STEP TOWARDS FINANCIAL HEALTH AMIDST COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
BY Latifat Moradeyo (Associate)
The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the world to an economic upheaval. Declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020,[1] COVID-19 has become a global emergency, given its impact on the entire world population and the economy. It has no doubt resulted in closure of countries borders, shut down of businesses and self– quarantine globally.
Economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic became more visible in the world economy by the 20th of February, 2020 with the stock market crash.On 14 April 2020, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that all G7 nations had entered or were entering into what was called “deep recession” alongside most of the western world with significant slowdown of growth across developing and emerging economies[2]. The IMF has stated that the economic decline is “far worse” than that of the Great Recession in 2009[3].
It is worthy of note that the pandemic has so far affected companies particularly on the supply and demand sides[4]. On the supply side, companies experienced a reduction in the supply of labour, as workers were unwell or needed to look after their children or other dependents and in many cases, there was outright downsizing due to paucity of income to meet such commitments.The recession has seen unusually high and rapid increase in unemployment rates in many countries. For instance, some of the world biggest airlines including Virgin Australia, Air Mauritius and four subsidiaries of Norwegian airline filed for bankruptcy. Pursuant to this, an estimated 1, 571 pilots and 3, 134 cabin crew employed by these companies and their subsidiaries stand the risk of losing their jobs.
Download full newsletter here debt relief or forgiveness …(1) as a PDF document.
March 17, 2020
WHO IS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE LAW TO COLLECT STAMP DUTIES IN NIGERIA
WHO IS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE LAW TO COLLECT STAMP DUTIES IN NIGERIA
BY FELIX TERUNGWA AYEM, LLB, BL, HRM; Associate at KMO LEGAL
The office of the Attorney General of the Federation is created by the provisions of section 150 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). The section provides clearly as follows:
“There shall be an Attorney-General of the Federation who shall be the Chief Law Officer of the Federation and a Minister of the Government of the Federation”.
The position of the Attorney-General as described above entails that he is the numero uno, that is, the number one law officer in the whole of the Federation and that automatically places him in the position of the Chief Advisor to the President on all legal issues. (more…)
March 17, 2020
GIG ECONOMY WORKERS: EMPLOYEES OR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS? BY Ruth Nwankwo and Chibueze Muobuikwu
GIG ECONOMY WORKERS: EMPLOYEES OR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS?[1]
INTRODUCTION
Gig economy is an economic activity that involves the use of temporary or freelance workers to perform jobs typically in the service sector.[2] In a gig economy, flexible jobs are commonplace and companies tend towards hiring independent contractors and freelancers instead of full-time employees.[3] In essence, it is where workers complete tasks on a project-by-project or client-by-client basis rather than regularly working for a single employer.[4] The gig economy is characterized by flexibility, zero hour contracts, self employment, workers paid for limited contracts, and people having more than one source of income.[5] Jobs in the gig economy include ridesharing [Uber, Bolt, Opay etc] which is now popular, delivery driving, selling craft, consulting, freelance writing, photography, coding and programming etc.[6] Participants in the gig economy are usually referred to as gig workers and on-demand companies. A gig worker has been defined to mean an independent contractor, online platform worker, contract firm worker, on-call worker and temporary worker.[7]
May 21, 2019
Dispute Resolution Paper Presented At The Nigerian Law School
Disputes are an inevitable occurrence in many commercial transactions. Different commercial and legal expectations, cultural approaches, political ramifications and geographical situations are all sources for disagreement and dispute between contracting parties.
