Collective Redress & Class Actions 2025

1. Policy Development of Collective Redress/Class Action Mechanisms

1.1 History and Policy Drivers of the Legislative Regime

Class actions have evolved in Nigeria through court rules and judicial decisions. However, the concept is still evolving in Nigerian jurisprudence and is restrictive in nature.

Historically, the class action procedure existed under Order 13 Rule 15 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules of 1972 (the "Lagos 1972 Rules") and continues to be retained in subsequent re-enactments of the Lagos Rules in later years. Order 15 Rule 13 (1) of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 (the "Lagos 2019 Rules"), which are the extant rules, provides for class action in various areas of law (see 2.2 Scope of Areas of Law to Which the Legislation Applies and for details).