Tort law affects the everyday lives of Nigerians in ways often overlooked, a former Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has said.
He spoke at the presentation of a new legal treatise widely described by scholars and practitioners as a timely and significant contribution to Nigerian jurisprudence.
The book: “Contemporary Law of Tort in Nigeria,” is written by Uche Val Obi (SAN).
It was unveiled at a well-attended ceremony in Lagos that drew leading lights of the legal profession.
Olanipekun, who chaired the event, described the publication as “a remarkable contribution to the very heart of legal practice.”
He said: “Tort law shapes how society allocates responsibility and remedies harm.
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“By producing a modern, deeply researched text, Obi has provided the courts and practitioners with a reliable compass for navigating contemporary challenges.”
Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), who reviewed the work, underscored its academic depth and practical relevance to modern legal practice.
He praised Obi’s scholarship, describing the text as “a masterful blend of doctrine and practicality.”
He noted that the work goes beyond orthodox tort principles to interrogate emerging and evolving areas of liability.
Ajogwu said: “This is the kind of scholarship that strengthens jurisprudence.
“It speaks not only to where the law has been, but to where litigation in Nigeria is headed.”
Obi expressed gratitude for the turnout and stated that the book was the culmination of more than three decades of legal practice and scholarship.
He explained that the motivation for the work was a desire to reinforce the foundations of Nigerian civil justice while responding to global and technological shifts influencing tort law.
“I felt compelled to write a text that reflects our local realities while engaging with global developments,” Obi said.
“My hope is that it will serve as a dependable companion to students, scholars, and practitioners for years to come.”
The SANi, who is also the author of the widely cited Class Actions in Nigeria, stressed that tort law remains one of the most dynamic areas of litigation.
He said the book examines core doctrines such as negligence, nuisance, and vicarious liability, while also engaging newer issues arising from social and technological change.
Obi said: “Society is evolving, technology is advancing, and the law must evolve with it. “This work attempts to capture that evolution.”
Many of the distinguished audience of judges, senior advocates, academics, and law students highlighted the book’s depth, clarity, and relevance at a time when civil liability litigation is becoming increasingly complex.
