Commercial agreements increasingly incorporate arbitration agreements as the preferred mechanism for resolving contractual disputes. However, the true efficacy of arbitration frequently turns upon the enforceability of the resultant award when voluntary compliance is withheld.
Statutory Framework
Nigeria’s arbitration jurisprudence provides robust statutory backing for the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards. An applicant seeking enforcement must present an authenticated original award or duly certified copy alongside the original arbitration agreement.
Grounds for Challenge
Superior courts in Nigeria maintain a pro-arbitration posture. An application to set aside or resist enforcement is strictly limited to statutory grounds, such as lack of arbitral jurisdiction, procedural unfairness, misconduct, or conflict with public policy.