{
  "id": 15986375,
  "title": "Investors shun Nigeria over contract breaches, court delays, ex-parte orders",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/investors-shun-nigeria-over-contract-breaches-court-delays-ex-parte-15986375",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-22T02:26:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/investors-shun-nigeria-over-contract-breaches-court-delays-ex-parte-orders/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Investors are increasingly hesitant to commit long-term capital to Nigeria due to persistent issues with contract enforcement, lengthy commercial disputes, and government policies undermining existing agreements, according to legal and business experts. The concerns were highlighted at the third annual Multi-Door Courthouses and Alternative Dispute Resolution Stakeholders Summit 2026, held in Lagos on October 19 and 20. The summit, themed \"Investor Confidence and ADR: Strengthening Nigeria’s Investment Climate,\" brought together industry leaders to discuss the challenges facing foreign investment in the country.\n\nCharles Adeyemi Candide-Johnson, Managing Partner of Candide-Johnson Law, emphasized that investors seek safety above all else. \"Capital goes where it is safe,\" he said, stressing that capital is attracted not just by the promise of profit but by the assurance of asset protection and fair decision-making in commercial disputes. He added that investors require a dependable commercial justice system to ensure that contractual agreements are upheld according to their terms, with applicable laws and legitimate legal exceptions.\n\nBode Olanipekun, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and President and Chairman of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, cited weak contract enforcement, questionable ex parte orders, inconsistent government policies, and unpredictable dispute resolution as significant obstacles to investment. Olanipekun pointed to a case where Company A obtained court orders against Company B without allowing the opposing party to be heard, leading to a subsequent dismissal by the Court of Appeal. He warned that such practices could damage investor confidence and discourage companies from operating or investing in Nigeria.\n\nCandide-Johnson also noted the importance of independent arbitrators with specialized industry knowledge who can deliver final decisions efficiently. He argued that a reliable arbitral process would give investors greater confidence in committing capital to the country. The discussions at the summit underscored the need for Nigeria to improve its investment climate by enhancing contract enforcement, streamlining dispute resolution processes, and ensuring fair adjudication to attract and retain much-needed capital.",
  "summary": "Legal and business leaders warn that investors are shunning Nigeria due to inconsistent contract enforcement, prolonged court delays, and misuse of ex-part Read More: https://punchng.com/investors-shun-nigeria-over-contract-breaches-court-delays-ex-parte-orders/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Investors shun Nigeria over contract breaches, court delays, ex-parte orders",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/investors-shun-nigeria-over-contract-breaches-court-delays-ex-parte",
        "published": "2026-10-22T02:04:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}