WALTER IMOEDEMHE

The topic critically examines the enduring and controversial practice of the death penalty within Nigeria’s legal system. Though a feature of Nigerian law since the colonial era, its continued application stands in stark contrast to global abolitionist trends and poses significant questions regarding the sanctity of fundamental human rights enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The study employs a doctrinal approach, analyzing relevant Nigerian statutes, key judicial pronouncements, particularly of the Supreme Court and pertinent international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a party. The Human Rights Perspective critically assesses the death penalty's impact on the constitutional rights to life as provided in Section 331 and freedom from torture or inhuman and degrading treatment as provided in Section 342 . It highlights concerns surrounding the finality of the sentence in the face of flawed criminal justice processes, the persistent issue of wrongful convictions, and the ethical implications of the "death row phenomenon." The study subsequently investigates the Constitutional Challenges, focusing on two primary areas: the legality of the mandatory death sentence for certain offenses, which limits judicial discretion, and the constitutional validity of execution methods. It analyzes the evolving jurisprudence of Nigerian courts which, while largely upholding the constitutionality of the death penalty, have concurrently introduced judicial safeguards and stricter interpretations of due process. The research concludes that the practice of capital punishment, especially its mandatory nature and the lengthy delays preceding execution, is increasingly difficult to reconcile with the fundamental tenets of modern constitutional democracy and international human rights law. It recommends a legislative review to abolish mandatory sentencing and proposes a national moratorium as an essential step toward eventual abolition

The security of land titles in Nigeria has long been a critical challenge, with issues such as fraudulent transactions, multiple claims to the same land, and inefficiencies in the registration process undermining investor confidence and economic development. Despite the existence of statutory frameworks like the Land Use Act 1978 and various state land laws, these challenges persist, often due to bureaucratic delays, inadequate record-keeping, and limited integration of modern technologies in land administration. This study aims to appraise the role of technology, particularly digital registration systems and emerging tools like blockchain and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), in enhancing the security of land titles in Nigeria. It seeks to identify how technological interventions can improve transparency, reduce fraud, facilitate efficient land transactions, and strengthen the protection of private and customary land interests. A doctrinal research methodology was employed, involving an extensive review of primary legal sources, including the Constitution, Land Use Act, relevant state land laws, and judicial decisions, complemented by secondary sources such as scholarly articles, policy documents, and case studies. Comparative insights from other jurisdictions, including Ghana and the United Kingdom, were also incorporated to contextualize the Nigerian experience. The findings reveal that technology-driven initiatives, such as digital land registries and electronic issuance of certificates of occupancy, have significantly improved record accuracy, accessibility, and verification processes. Blockchain and GIS applications offer additional opportunities to secure land records against manipulation, ensure traceability of transactions, and integrate spatial and ownership data for effective land management. However, challenges such as limited technical capacity, infrastructure constraints, and resistance to change remain barriers to full adoption. The study concludes that integrating technology into land administration in Nigeria holds substantial promise for enhancing title security, promoting investor confidence, and supporting sustainable land governance. It recommends that federal and state governments prioritize digital reforms, develop supportive legal frameworks for blockchain adoption, and provide capacity-building programs for land administration officials to fully realize these benefits.

The topic entails the flaws of the traditional defamation law in dealing with activities on the internet. The limitations of the traditional defamation law in protecting the reputations of persons on the internet where such reputations have been affected by statements made by individuals or groups and the law not being able to bring justice to such wrong doers in some cases due to anonymity or the speedy spread of information online. However, there have been provisions such as those laid down in section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 pertaining to digital defamation, addressing the flaws of the traditional defamation laws and laying down sanctions for such defamatory offences ranging from seven million fines to not less than three years imprisonment or both for offenders. This analysis aims to explores the inadequacies of the traditional defamation laws and the evolving landscape of defamation law in the digital age like the Australian Defamation Amendment Bill of 2023. The work highlights the need for reforms and advancement of the traditional defamation law in order to tackle unique digital challenges such as jurisdictional issues, anonymity, and balancing the need to protect reputations with the right to free speech as contained in section 39 of The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and also Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and how such rights are not completely absolute.
By analysing the current legal framework and its limitation in tackling online defamation, this study highlights the importance of advancing defamation law in Nigeria to effectively protect reputations while balancing the right to freedom of expression. The findings of this research will provide an insight into the complex interplay between protecting reputations and preserving free speech in the digital space highlighting the need and importance of adaptive legal frameworks, increased protections and international cooperation to promote a safer online environment and better safe guard individual reputations.

Corporate social responsibility and sustainable business practices in the Nigerian oil and gas industry refer to what the acceptable standards of business practice in the Nigerian petroleum industry are, with particular focus on issues like gas flaring and oil spillage inter alia. It also contemplates to what extent oil companies are socially responsible to the host communities i.e. communities within which upstream and downstream activities generally occur. The petroleum industry is regulated by a litany of statutes, laws and regulations. This complex tapestry of legislation determine the social responsibilities, outlines the duties and liabilities of persons in the industry and effectively dictates what the preferred business practices are within the industry. This work examines the social responsibilities of oil companies in Nigeria. It also analyzes the legal framework for corporate social responsibility in Nigeria, setting forth a legal view of what business practices fall in line with relevant and recent legislation including but not limited to the Petroleum Industry Act (2021). It also tackles the issue of implementation of integration of corporate social responsibility and sustainable business practices in the oil and gas industry.

This research work will provide a comprehensive analysis of terrorism in Nigeria, with a focused case study on Boko Haram, one of the most violent and persistent insurgent groups in the region. The main purpose is to explore the complex interplay of political, economic, social, and ideological factors that have contributed to the rise and entrenchment of Boko Haram, evaluate its effects on national security and civilian life, and assess the effectiveness of government and international responses to the crisis.This study relied on the doctrinal research methodology. It is library research which includes primary and secondary sources. The primary sources consist of statute and case laws. The secondary sources which consisted relevant information from leading authorities, books on tax laws and practices, writings and articles of scholars, magazines, opinion of jurists, journals, periodicals, seminar papers, as well as the internet and websites. The research concluded that Boko Haram’s insurgency is deeply linked to systemic issues such as poverty, unemployment, religious extremism, poor governance, and regional inequalities. The group’s adaptive tactics and exploitation of local grievances have made counterinsurgency efforts challenging. While military operations have yielded some territorial gains against Boko Haram, sustainable peace remains elusive without addressing underlying socio-economic problems. Policy recommendations emphasize a holistic strategy combining security improvement, economic empowerment, education reforms, and regional cooperation to dismantle extremist networks and promote long-term stability in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin.