ǼLEX SUCCESSFULLY REPRESENTS ‘THE CHATERED INSTITUTE OF ARBITRATORS (UK)’ IN LANDMARK VICTORY AGAINST ‘THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ARBITRATORS (Nigeria)’

Judgment was delivered on 22 October 2018 by Hon. Justice Olaterogun of the Federal High Court in favour of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) (the Plaintiff) against a body that described itself as The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria) Ltd/Gte (the Defendant).

The Plaintiff instituted the action in passing-off against the Defendant as it was using the Plaintiff’s name, logo and membership grades. The Defendant on the other hand, counterclaimed against the Plaintiff.

In delivering its judgment, the Court held that by the use of the name ‘Chartered Institute of Arbitrators’ (Nigeria) as well as the Plaintiff’s logo and its membership grades, the Defendant was passing itself off as the Nigerian branch of the Plaintiff.

The Court further granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant from further using the ‘Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria) Ltd/Gte name, the logo, membership grades and accompanying acronyms of the Plaintiff on any materials.

The Court then dismissed the counterclaim of the Defendant and awarded costs against it in the sum of N1 million in favour of the Plaintiff.

Kudos to the Dispute Resolution team at AELEX over this crucial victory!