Ministry of Justice, Abia State

The Abia State Government, through the Ministry of Justice, has enhanced access to the Laws of Abia State by digitizing them, making them readily available at the click of a button.

Today, 26 March 2026, the IP Rights Advocacy Workshop organised by Ethnocentrique FFP was held at the Nobik Event Centre, Aba.

The programme, themed “Protecting Creativity, Powering Exports: Intellectual Property as a Catalyst for Aba’s Fashion Economy,” attracted a wide array of young entrepreneurs across the State, particularly those engaged in garment production and leather works. Participants demonstrated keen interest in understanding the value and practical implications of intellectual property for their businesses.

The event was honoured by the presence of the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna SAN, who delivered an insightful address on the importance of intellectual property rights. In his remarks, he emphasised that securing IP rights confers “a measurable, bankable economic value” on businesses and urged participants to position themselves to fully benefit from emerging opportunities. He further noted that with sustained sensitisation and strategic funding, the “Made in Aba” brand is well-positioned to achieve significant growth and recognition.

During the panel discussions and fireside chats involving key stakeholders - including entrepreneurs, the Nigerian Copyright Commission, the Abia State Government, and Ethnocentrique - it was unanimously agreed that the establishment of an Intellectual Property Committee in Abia State is both necessary and timely. The proposed committee would comprise relevant offices and stakeholders to drive coordination and policy implementation. In response, the Honourable Attorney General assured participants that the proposal would receive due consideration, with a view to advancing the shared objective.

PRESS RELEASE!!!

ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT REJOINDER TO MISLEADING REPORT ON THE ARBITRAL AWARD RELATING TO THE ENYIMBA ECONOMIC CITY PROJECT

The attention of the Abia State Ministry of Justice has been drawn to a publication currently circulating in the media titled “Both Majority and Dissenting Rulings Declared Abia State Cannot Withdraw Our Certificate of Occupancy,” attributed to the promoters of the Enyimba Economic City.

The said publication contains several statements that materially misrepresent the findings and legal effect of the Majority Award delivered by the Arbitral Tribunal on 13 February 2026. It has therefore become necessary to clarify the correct position in order to prevent the continued dissemination of inaccurate and misleading information.

First, the publication seeks to create the impression that the Tribunal unequivocally ruled in favour of the project promoters on the central issues in dispute and that the Abia State Government was found to have acted unlawfully. This characterisation is inaccurate and does not reflect the determinations contained in the Majority Award, which constitutes the binding decision of the Tribunal.

Secondly, the report attempts to elevate the dissenting opinion of a minority member of the Tribunal to the same legal status as the Majority Award. In arbitral jurisprudence, the decision that has legal force and effect is the decision of the majority of the Tribunal. A dissenting opinion, while permissible as an expression of the views of an individual arbitrator, does not constitute the operative award and cannot override or displace the findings of the majority.

Thirdly, the publication conspicuously omits one of the most consequential aspects of the Majority Award. The Tribunal expressly ordered the refund of the sum of ₦400,000,000 (Four Hundred Million Naira) earlier paid by the Abia State Government in connection with the share capital structure of the project company. This order was made on the basis of the legal doctrine described by the Tribunal as the “Resulting Trust Theory.” The effect of this finding is that the Tribunal recognised that the said funds remained beneficially attributable to the Government and must therefore be returned.

The attempt to downplay this critical component of the Majority Award, while selectively highlighting elements that appear favourable to the promoters, amounts to a clear misrepresentation of the Tribunal’s decision.

Fourthly, the sweeping assertion that both the Majority and Dissenting rulings categorically declared that the Abia State Government lacks the power to withdraw the Certificate of Occupancy is an overstatement that does not accurately reflect the nuanced reasoning contained in the Majority Award. The Tribunal’s analysis was confined to the specific contractual framework presented before it and cannot properly be interpreted as a blanket limitation on the lawful statutory powers of Government.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Abia State Government reiterates that the Majority Award remains the operative and binding decision of the Tribunal, and its contents must be understood in their proper legal context rather than through selective quotation or commentary.

The Abia State Ministry of Justice therefore rejects the attempt to distort the true import of the Award through partial disclosure and misleading interpretation.

The Government remains committed to responsible engagement with all stakeholders and to ensuring that public discourse on matters of this nature is grounded in accuracy, fairness, and respect for the official record.

Office of the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice
Abia State Government

On Wednesday, 18 February 2026, the Abia State Government formally launched the Digital Sexual Offender Register as a strategic instrument to strengthen enforcement of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law as domesticated in Abia State.

The Register was formally unveiled by Her Excellency, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, Wife of the Governor of Abia State and Chairperson of the State’s Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Committee, marking a significant milestone in the State’s coordinated response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

The Digital Register, domiciled in the Ministry of Justice as the Anchor Organisation, is designed to provide a secure, technology-driven and transparent system for documenting and monitoring convicted sexual offenders, while strengthening institutional coordination, prosecutorial oversight and public protection. It aligns with the objectives of the National Sexual Offender Database (NSOD) established pursuant to the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, and is structured to interface with the national platform managed by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

During the launch ceremony, the technical team conducted a live demonstration of the Register’s operational framework, including its layered access controls and data protection architecture. The system was formally activated and the ribbon cut to signify its commencement.

The development of the Register was achieved with the support of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme and International IDEA, with HADIS serving as technical consultants to the State in the design, deployment and operationalisation of the platform. The initiative benefited from collaboration with the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, alongside key state stakeholders.

The event was attended by Honourable Commissioners from the Ministries of Justice, Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, Women Affairs, and Health; Permanent Secretaries; representatives of security agencies; civil society partners; and members of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Committee.

This milestone represents more than the launch of a digital tool. It signals the institutionalisation of a coordinated system that integrates survivor support, lawful documentation, prosecutorial enforcement and inter-agency collaboration within an overarching State framework aimed at deterrence, accountability and the protection of vulnerable persons.

PRESS RELEASE

Abia State Secures Major Legal Victory in Enyimba Economic City Arbitration

Last week the Arbitral Tribunal constituted to determine the dispute between Enyimba Industrial Development Company Limited & Crown Realties Plc (jointly referred to as “the Promoters”) and the Government of Abia State has delivered its Final Award.

Upon a full hearing of the parties, the Tribunal held that the Public Private Partnership Agreement (PPPA) executed in 2017 in relation to the Enyimba Economic City Project was constructively terminated by reason of the fundamental breach of the Promoters.

The Tribunal further ordered the Promoters to refund to the Government of Abia State the sum of ₦400 million, being the Naira equivalent of USD 1.05 million paid from public funds, having found that there was no legal or contractual basis for the payment. In the words of the Tribunal, the sum constituted “money had and received for no consideration.”

It Is important to place this outcome in its proper perspective. Before the Tribunal, the Promoters sought damages of USD 50 million, and in the alternative USD 250 million, in addition to interest and the full costs of the arbitration. Those extensive monetary claims were not sustained. The Tribunal rejected the substantial financial demands advanced against Abia State.

This development must be viewed in the broader context of Nigeria’s experience in the Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) matter. In that case, an arbitral award of approximately USD 11 billion was eventually set aside by the English High Court after findings that the underlying contract had been procured through fraud and serious irregularity. That episode remains a stark reminder of the potential risks inherent in inadequately structured or insufficiently scrutinised public-private arrangements.

In the present matter, the Tribunal has affirmed the termination of a defective PPP structure and ordered the return of public funds to the State. The recovery of ₦400 million to the public treasury reflects a firm institutional commitment to justice, accountability, and the protection of public resources under the administration of His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR.

The Government of Abia State remains committed to responsible industrial development and lawful investment partnerships. However, such engagements must be grounded in clear contractual compliance, transparency, and strict fidelity to statutory and constitutional obligations.

To our amiable Leader Dr. Alex Chioma Otti OFR, the Executive Governor of God's Own State, we wish you a happy birthday.

We are grateful for all you have done for the Ministry of Justice and for Abia State.

Court of Appeal Dismisses Application on Abia Judicial Appointments, Cites False Affidavit Evidence

The Court of Appeal, Owerri Judicial Division, in Nkume v AG Abia 2026 has dismissed in its entirety an application seeking to halt the ongoing 2024 judicial appointment exercise in Abia State.
In a considered and well-reasoned ruling delivered by the Honourable Justice Ntong Festus Ntong, JCA, the Applicants’ motion for extension of time, leave to appeal, and injunction pending appeal was found to be devoid of merit and constituted an abuse of court process.
Of particular significance, the Court made a clear and unequivocal finding that the Applicants misrepresented material facts and lied on oath in their affidavit evidence. The Court held that the Applicants falsely claimed that their earlier application was delayed by the Court, whereas records showed that they had voluntarily withdrawn it by filing a Notice of Discontinuance. This deliberate suppression of material facts was described by the Court as dishonest and misleading.
In refusing the application, the Court affirmed that judicial appointments are administrative processes governed by established constitutional and statutory frameworks and must not be obstructed through frivolous or dishonest litigation.
Consequently, the Court dismissed the application in full and awarded substantial costs against the Applicants in favour of the Respondents.

The Ministry of Justice welcomes this decision as a reaffirmation of the rule of law, judicial integrity, and the need for honesty and good faith in judicial proceedings. The judgment underscores that courts will not tolerate abuse of process, misrepresentation, or attempts to hold public institutions hostage through unfounded litigation.
The Abia State Government remains committed to transparent, merit-based, and constitutionally compliant judicial appointments, in the best interest of justice delivery and the people of Abia State.

To kick-start the AGM of the NBA Eastern Bar Forum, members of the Forum were, on 23rd January 2026, graciously received by the Honourable Attorney-General of Abia State, Ikechukwu Uwanna SAN. The visit featured an engaging and insightful tour of key development projects across Abia State.

In the company of Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, FCIArb, the Honourable Attorney General led EBF members, using one of the electric buses, on a tour of the Umuahia Central Bus Terminal (currently under construction), the newly built Umuene Prototype Court Complex, and the Aba High Court, also under construction.

Members expressed delight at the remarkable improvements and ongoing infrastructural developments within the State and commended the Honourable Attorney-General for his leadership, commitment, and efforts towards making Abia State a better place.

Just now • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn
EBF!!!
Abia State warmly welcomes members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Eastern Bar Forum (EBF), as it proudly hosts the 1st Quarterly General Meeting of the Forum in Umuahia from 23rd to 25th January, 2026.

The historic city of Umuahia is set to receive distinguished legal practitioners from across the Eastern and South Southern States for three days of robust deliberations, professional engagement, and fellowship, all aimed at strengthening the ideals of the Bar and advancing the administration of justice within the region.

Happy New Year, Everyone!!!

Merry Christmas to You All

Today, we join the global community to mark International Anti-Corruption Day.
Corruption undermines justice, slows development, weakens institutions, and erodes public trust. At the Ministry of Justice, Abia State, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.
We continue to work tirelessly to strengthen legal frameworks, support ethical governance, and ensure that every Abian can rely on institutions that are fair, just, and free from corruption.
Together, we can build a society where integrity thrives and justice prevails.
Let’s speak up, take a stand, and play our part in creating a cleaner, more accountable Abia.