28/07/2026
BEFORE YOU SAY “I WILL SUE YOU!”:
5 Things You Must Know Before Going to Court :
We’ve all seen it in movies: someone gets offended, slams their hand on the table, and screams, “You’ll hear from my lawyer!” It sounds powerful. It sounds dramatic.
But in the real world jumping into a lawsuit without thinking is like jumping into a third-mainland bridge traffic jam on purpose.
You know when you entered, but you have no idea when you’ll get out.
Before you pay a lawyer a retainership fee, here are 5 crucial things nobody tells you about suing someone or a company:
1. The "Broke Defendant" Trap (Are they even worth suing?) :
Let’s say a vendor scams you of ₦5,000,000. You get angry, hire a lawyer for ₦1,500,000, spend two years in court, and the judge finally rules in your favor. Yay, you won!
But wait...
the vendor is completely broke. They have no money in the bank, no landed property, and their phone is screen-smashed.
In law, this is called a "Judgment Proof" defendant. You will end up with a beautifully framed court judgment paper that you cannot cash anywhere.
Always make sure the person you are suing actually has the money to pay you back!
2. Court Doesn't Care About "The Truth," Only "Proof" :
You can walk into a courtroom knowing 100% that someone cheated you. But the judge wasn't there when it happened.
The court does not run on vibes or "God sees my heart.
If your entire case relies on "But he promised me on a phone call," you are in trouble.
Without a paper trail; WhatsApp chats, emails, receipts, or signed contracts your case will crumble.
If your evidence is weak, the judge can even order you to pay the other party's legal expenses for wasting their time.
3. The Nigerian "Time Factor" :
A standard civil lawsuit in Nigeria is rarely a sprint; it’s a grueling marathon.
Because of packed court schedules, and endless adjournments, a case can easily drag on for 2 to 5 years or even more.
Ask yourself: “Do I want to be thinking about
