Enforceability of arbitration agreements – the interplay between sections 4 and 5 of Nigeria’s Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 2004

Abstract

This article presents the enforceability of arbitration agreements – the interplay between sections 4 and 5 of Nigeria’s Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 2004 (ACA). The following issues are discussed: whether given the unique and distinct but related provisions of sections 4 and 5 of ACA dealing with the same subject matter, they are in conflict, could be applied in the alternative or simultaneously or whether one supersedes the other or is inapplicable; whether section 4 of ACA amounts to limiting or controlling the constitutionally vested judicial powers of the courts or the courts sharing their judicial powers with arbitral tribunals and is therefore null and void by reason ofsections 1(1)(3) of the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution; and the procedural steps for enforcement under section 5 of ACA. Using the doctrinal research method vis-a-vis primary sources the author concludes that section 5 of ACA supersedes its section 4; section 4 is not an alternative to section 5; sections 4(1) and (2) of the ACA by whittling or limiting judicial powers of the courts are inconsistent with sections 6(1) and 6(6) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and thus are null by reason of section 1(1) (3) of the same 1999 Constitution and in consequence inapplicable; that Nigerian courts disregard any statute that seeks to limit or whittle or regulate and obliterate the judicial powers conferred on them by the Constitution or that has provided for sharing of their judicial powers with any other body other than the courts in which it is invested by the Constitution.