Africa: Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration

South African prescription law is more nuanced than a simple three-year countdown. The critical question is not when an event occurred, but when a claimant possessed sufficient knowledge to recognize they may have a claim—a determination that depends heavily on the specific facts and circumstances of each case.

This appraisal examines the current procedure for arresting ships in Nigerian waters, exploring the legal framework established by the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act and the 2023 Procedure Rules. It analyzes the practical challenges faced by litigants, ship owners, and courts in enforcing this maritime remedy, while proposing solutions to improve jurisdictional clarity, prevent wrongful arrests, and manage forum tensions in international shipping disputes.

A private hospital patient's leg amputation following an untreated ruptured aneurysm led to complex medical negligence litigation involving multiple defendants. When the plaintiff's legal team delayed suing a key physician based on a strategic decision to pursue vicarious liability, the court had to determine whether the claim had prescribed under South Africa's three-year limitation period.

South African prescription law is more nuanced than a simple three-year countdown. The critical question is not when an event occurred, but when a claimant possessed sufficient knowledge to recognize they may have a claim—a determination that depends heavily on the specific facts and circumstances of each case.

This appraisal examines the current procedure for arresting ships in Nigerian waters, exploring the legal framework established by the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act and the 2023 Procedure Rules. It analyzes the practical challenges faced by litigants, ship owners, and courts in enforcing this maritime remedy, while proposing solutions to improve jurisdictional clarity, prevent wrongful arrests, and manage forum tensions in international shipping disputes.

Nigeria's Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023 fundamentally transforms the country's arbitration framework by codifying the seat of arbitration doctrine in alignment with international standards.

The new Mass Media Proclamation 1238/2021 has introduced significant changes to the previous legal regime governing the media. The law has introduced commendable legal provisions that provide greater protection and space for media freedom as well as more flexibility with regard to investments in the media industry. In this brief commentary, we will provide the major changes made in the new Mass Media proclamation briefly.

On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court of Nigeria (the “Supreme Court”) delivered a landmark decision in the case of Emma Elegbe & Anor v. HP International Schools Limited & 3 Ors...

When people think of civil litigation, they often imagine a long and demanding process which involves filing all required pleadings, witnesses testifying, lawyers cross-examining, and a trial that may take months or even years before a final decision is reached

South African prescription law is more nuanced than a simple three-year countdown. The critical question is not when an event occurred, but when a claimant possessed sufficient knowledge to recognize they may have a claim—a determination that depends heavily on the specific facts and circumstances of each case.

A private hospital patient's leg amputation following an untreated ruptured aneurysm led to complex medical negligence litigation involving multiple defendants. When the plaintiff's legal team delayed suing a key physician based on a strategic decision to pursue vicarious liability, the court had to determine whether the claim had prescribed under South Africa's three-year limitation period.

When people walk into a restaurant, they expect to leave satisfied, not hospitalised. The duty placed on food vendors is not merely commercial, but is closely tied to public health and safety.