Faruq Abbas

Faruq Abbas, the Managing Partner of Abdu-Salaam Abbas & Co., is a distinguished legal professional with expertise in dispute resolution. In 2022, he was appointed a Notary Public for Nigeria. His areas of specialization include commercial litigation, labor and employment law, property law, debt recovery, alternative dispute resolution, data protection, and family law.

Faruq frequently appears before different levels of the Nigerian Court system and has garnered praise for his involvement in notable cases, many of which have been reported in reputable law publications such as Nigeria Weekly Law Reports (NWLR), Commercial Law Reports Nigeria (CLRN), Nigerian Labour Law Reports, Appellate Court Employment Law Report (ACELR), and Law Pavilion Electronic Law Reports (LPELR). He is also a recognized Trademark Agent and a member of esteemed organizations such as the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) Nigeria Branch, the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA), the ICC Young Arbitrators Forum (YAF), and the Young ICCA (International Council for Commercial Arbitration).

Beyond his impressive litigation practice, Faruq provides legal guidance to numerous high-net-worth individuals and companies in their business operations. He has successfully represented clients in real estate transactions across various parts of Lagos State, handling the acquisition of properties and registration of title documents at both the Lands Registry in Alausa, Lagos State, and the Federal Lands Registry in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

In his free time, Faruq indulges his passion for chess and enjoys immersing himself in autobiographies and biographies of accomplished business and political leaders.

Faruq’s extensive experience and diverse skill set make him a valuable asset to Abdu-Salaam Abbas & Co. and a trusted legal advisor to his clients.

EDUCATION

• B, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
• BL, Nigerian Law School, Abuja

PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• Can a Spouse Claim Sole Ownership of a Property Purchased in the Other Spouse’s Name? A Review of the Court of Appeal’s Decision in Aguocha v. Aguocha (2023) 10 NWLR (Pt. 1891) 89.
• Appointment of an Arbitrator by the Court: A Review of the Court of Appeal’s Decision in O.A.U. v. Inaolaji Builders Limited (2020) 4 NWLR (Pt. 1714) 347.
• Substitution of a Candidate’s Name by a Political Party: A Review of the Court of Appeal’s Decision in INEC v. PDP & Ors (2022) LPELR-57379.
• Breach of the Right to Privacy: A Review of the Court of Appeal’s Decision in Portland Paints & Productions Nig. Ltd & Anor -v- Mr. Jimmy Olaghare & Anor (2019) 2 NWLR (Pt. 1657) 542.
• Can an Employee Who Suffered an Injury in the Course of His Employment Commence a Lawsuit Against his Employer Under the Employees’ Compensation Act?
• How to Avoid Disputes Arising from the Services of An Estate Agent: A Case study of the Decision of the Court of Appeal in S.D.V. Nigeria Limited -v- P.K. Ojo & Anor (2016) LPELR-40323 (CA).
• Intestate Succession in Nigeria: What is the Status of Children Born Out of Wedlock.
• How to Avoid Disputes Arising from the Management of Service Charge in Respect of a Property: A case study of the Decision of the High Court of Lagos State in the 1004 Estates Limited’s Case;
• An introduction to arbitration. (He delivered this paper at the maiden edition of the Arbitration Seminar of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society, University of Lagos on 9^th October 2014 at Ayo Ajomo Hall, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies);
• Stay of proceedings pending arbitration: A critique of the decision of the Court of Appeal in UBA v. Trident Consulting Ltd (2013) 4 CLRN 119 (He delivered this paper at the 2013 Annual Conference of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) Nigeria Branch which was held at the City Hall, Lagos on 29^th November 2013);
• Injunctions Pending Arbitration: A Legal Myth? (Published on mondaq.com);
• Limits of Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) power to register a Political Party (Published on premiumtimesng.com on 28^th July 2013);
• Understanding the concept of bail in Nigeria (Published on academia.edu);
• Mechanics for setting up a maritime limitation fund in Nigeria;
• Limitation of liability for general maritime claims: A Nigerian case study;
• The impact of the enforcement of foreign judgments on the economy of Nigeria;
• Why Senators were right to throw out the Political Parties Registration Bill (Published in Thisday Newspaper, 9^th June 2009, Page VII of Thisday Lawyer).

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
• International Bar Association (IBA).
• NBA Section on Business Law (SBL).
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) Nigeria Branch.
• Lagos Court of Arbitration.
• Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria.
• Employment and Labour Lawyers Association of Nigeria (ELLAN).
• ICC Young Arbitrators Forum (YAF).
• Young ICCA (International Council for Commercial Arbitration.
• Intellectual Property Lawyers Association Nigeria

EXPERIENCE IN LITIGATION, ARBITRATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

• He successfully represented a Claimant at the National Industrial Court, Lagos State, in a landmark lawsuit involving workplace discrimination based on the health status of an employee. The judgment in this lawsuit is a locus classicus on workplace discrimination in Nigeria due to the Court’s pronouncement on the employee’s right to be free from discrimination based on their health status. Additionally, the Court held that it was unlawful for the Defendant to have compelled the Claimant to undergo certain medical tests.
• He successfully defended a leading ride-hailing company at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. The case was brought by a rider against a registered driver and the ride-hailing company, with the rider claiming that the ride-hailing company was vicariously liable for the actions of the driver. However, Faruq argued and convinced the Court that the ride-hailing company could not be held responsible for the driver’s actions since there was no employer-employee relationship between them. The Court ruled in favor of Faruq’s client, absolving the ride-hailing company of any liability.
• He successfully represented a Claimant at the High Court of Lagos State in a lawsuit involving a mortgage facility for the sum of N160,570.173.57 (One hundred and sixty million, five hundred and seventy thousand, one hundred and seventy-three naira, fifty-seven kobo), which was granted by a Bank to the Claimant.
• He successfully defended a multinational company in a lawsuit at the High Court of Osun State in a claim for the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five hundred million naira) as damages for the wrongful usage of the Claimants’ image in a series of campaign for the marketing of the Defendant’s products.
• He successfully represented a leading international aesthetic plastic and reconstructive surgery center in Lagos State in a medical negligence lawsuit. The case involved a claim of medical negligence arising from a cosmetic surgery performed by the center to remove several scars from the claimant’s body. Faruq led a team of lawyers and successfully defended the center in the lawsuit, which took place at the High Court of Lagos State.
• He successfully represented a claimant at the High Court of Lagos State in a lawsuit involving the wrongful dishonoring of the claimant’s cheque by their bank. The defendant argued that the claimant’s account did not have sufficient funds when the cheque was presented for payment. However, the legal team, led by Faruq, was able to prove that the claimant’s account had enough funds at the time the cheque was presented. The court, presided over by Hon. Justice O.O. Ogungbesan (Mrs), ruled in favor of the claimant, awarding them the sum of N7,000,000.00 (Seven million naira) as damages for the wrongful dishonoring of their cheque.
• He successfully led a team of lawyers representing four (4) respondents in a lawsuit brought against them by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) at the Federal High Court, Lagos Division. The lawsuit concerned the ownership of three (3) units of Semi-Detached Houses at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi and he was able to convince the court that AMCON could not claim of the ownership of the properties belonging to the Respondents. On 15 July 2020, Hon. Justice A.O. Faji delivered the judgment in this case.
• Faruq was a member of the team of lawyers who successfully defended claims in excess of $3,000,000.00 (Three million USD) against a foreign shipowner in a Court action involving the collusion of a vessel and an oil production facility rig in Rivers State.
• He successfully argued an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division involving the wrongful dismissal of a top executive of a multinational
• He successfully argued an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division involving a disputed debt running into several millions of naira arising from a contract for the provision of satellite services.
• He has successfully handled countless lawsuits on the dissolution of marriages, distribution of matrimonial assets and custody of children.
• He was part of the legal team that represented the Appellants in a landmark appeal involving the principle of a case stated constitutional reference from the National Industrial Court (NIC) to the Court of Appeal and the jurisdiction of the NIC based on the 3^rd Alteration to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• He led the team of counsel that successfully defended against an application for an interlocutory injunction filed against a renowned online travel agency in an intellectual property dispute at the Federal High Court. The application sought to prevent the travel agency from operating its widely used travel website. Faruq presented a compelling argument on behalf of the defendant, and the Federal High Court dismissed the application.
• He acted as lead Counsel to the Claimant at a Mediation proceeding in respect of a dispute involving non-payment for goods, which the Claimant supplied to the Defendant.

• He acted as Co-Counsel to the Defendant in an international ICC Arbitration in respect of a dispute arising out of a license agreement with regards to the non-payment of royalty for the usage of certain trademarks and trade secrets.