Olubor Uyi Esq.

RESOLVING THE PERENNIAL DISPUTE WITHIN THE NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION ~ by Olubor Uyi ESQ. In the early hours of the day, news broke out that the Federal High Court holden at Abuja gave an order restraining the Nigerian Football Federation(NFF) from conducting elections into its executive council. In this article, I would try as much as possible not to comment on the meritocracy of the claimants demand neither am I going to question the validity of the ruling of the Federal High Court restraining the football federation. As it is trite law that during the pendency of an action, parties are to maintain status quo ante in order not to destroy the res. Thus, the Federal High Court was within its right when it made that ruling. However, my frustration stems from the fact that why is it that during every NFF election cycle we always have these litigations which then dovetails into the regime of every NFF EXCO. The result is always a constant 'bras de fer' between the NFF and the Fe...

THE LEGAL STATUS OF INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO COMBAT IN THE UKRAINIAN WAR - CAN THEY ENJOY THE PRIVILEGES OF PRISONERS OF WAR (POW)? ~ by Olubor Uyi Esq. Since the commencement of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. We have witnessed a situation where parties to the conflict have called upon volunteers across the world to enlist in their respective armed forces to participate in the ongoing war. This demand has resulted in a situation where a lot of persons across the world are volunteering to participate in the war. Just last week, it was reported that about 150 able-bodied Nigerian youths approached the Ukrainian embassy with the aim of joining the Ukrainian army in the fight against the Russians. However, this demand from the parties has awoken another age long debate whether: 1. Volunteers of this nature, can they be designated as mercenaries? 2. If we accept that, they are mercenaries. Would they be entitled to the rights and privileges as set out under the Gen...

REFUSAL TO RELEASE ODION IGHALO- ONE DISRESPECT TOO MANY? ~ Olubor Uyi ESQ. Over the years, a major bone of contention has been the appropriate period to hold the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Most football Eggheads have demanded that the AFCON be moved from the summer to the winter. Alas!!! The last AFCON held in Egypt, took place during the summer. However, this has proved unsustainable. Owing to the unfavorable weather condition in most African countries during the European summer calendar. Hence, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reverted to holding the AFCON during the european winter calendar after it awarded the hosting rights to Cameroun. However, this decision taken by CAF has not gone down well with most marquee clubs across the globe. As it would mean, they would have to do without some of their key players who are of African decent during the duration of the tourney. The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been a major victim of this discontent. As it has seen in the p...

RESTRICTION BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON THE USE OF ACQUIRED WEAPONS OUTSIDE THE NORTH-EAST.  NEO-COLONIALISM ? For the past couple of months, there has been growing pressure on the Federal Government of Nigeria to label the bandits operating in the North-Western part of the country as terrorist organizations. This pressure ascended as facts emerged that there are clauses embedded in the weapon sales agreement between the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Preventing the Federal Republic of Nigeria from using the weapons outside the North East. It is the belief shared by some groups that the labeling of bandits as terrorists would raise international awareness of the activities of these groups in the North West, which would make it possible to unleash weapons placed under restrictions by the United States on the terrorists. Ordinarily, it would be easy to dismiss the restriction clause on the grounds that it does not bind Nigeria, having failed to m...

THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY ACT, DRIVING PETROLEUM INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN HOST COMMUNITIES (the second series) ~ by Olubor Uyi Esq. Over the years, a major impediment to the successful development of the oil and gas industry is the incessant friction between host communities and oil producing companies. This restiveness in the oil producing areas has always been attributed to economic and infrastructural neglect suffered by most host communities. Even though they are made to suffer huge ecological degradation to ensure the sustainable economic viability of the country. Thus, when the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) was being debated, a lot of consideration was given to ameliorate the hardship faced by host communities, in order to ensure a harmonious working relationship with the oil producing companies. Which would invariably rub off on the peace and economic stability of the country.  In ensuring the realization of this objective. Section 115 of the PIA re-enac...

THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY ACT (PIA), A VEHICLE FOR THE REVOLUTION OF THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY (the first series)~  by Olubor Uyi Esq. For the best part of the last two decades. The Nigerian Legislature has tried effortlessly to revitalize the Petroleum industry by trying to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). However, this bill has continually been hindered, either due to legislative filibustering or constitutional impediments on passing of Legislative bills. However, this year the National Assembly passed the PIB which was finally assented by the President. The PIA aims at promoting transparency, good governance and accountability in the administration of petroleum resources in Nigeria. This is one major reason the National Assembly via the PIA decided to unbundle the Nigeria National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) into the Upstream commission which will be responsible for the governance of the upstream Operations and the Midstream and Downstream Authority who would oversee the midstr...