Onyekachi Umah, FCIArb(UK)
Onyekachi Umah, FCIArb (UK), is a Legal Practitioner, Arbitrator, Author, and Public Legal Educator with nearly two decades of experience in civil law, criminal law, human rights, dispute resolution, and legal development. He holds a Master of Laws (LL.M), a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Certificate in Contract Law from Harvard University, and is currently a doctoral candidate.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), a member of Young ICSID of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), Washington, D.C., and an alumnus of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Geneva, Switzerland; the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Washington, D.C., USA; and the Tekedia Institute, Boston, USA.
Mr Umah is the Managing Partner of SabiLaw Firm (formerly, Bezaleel Chambers International) , where he advises and provides legal services to national and international organisations focusing on arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), litigation, election petitions, criminal law and human rights, digital governance, intellectual properties, international trade, corporate compliance, commercial real estate advisory, and energy sector consulting, among others.
He is also the Founder of SabiLaw, Africa’s leading information, services, and technology ecosystem specialising in Law, ADR, Tech, Energy, Training and Real Estate. Under his leadership, SabiLaw has evolved beyond a law firm, a legal publishing, repository and training academy into a robust ecosystem innovating dispute avoidance and resolution solutions, compliance systems, learning and productivity support systems, and high-impact multimedia training resources for individuals, businesses, development agencies and governments.
He is the author of the Daily Law Tips series, through which he has published over 820 practical legal insights since 2017. Through these publications, he simplifies complex legal principles, judicial decisions, and statutory provisions into accessible knowledge for Non-lawyers, lawyers, students, businesses, public institutions, and the general public. His contributions to public legal education have made Daily Law Tips one of Nigeria's most consistent and impactful legal awareness initiatives.
Beyond writing, Mr. Umah has delivered over 40 public lectures, anchored more than 67 law-focused radio and television programmes, and supported numerous legal and developmental projects across Africa. He also mentors lawyers and law students across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa through the SabiLaw Mentorship Network.
He is the founder of several legal awareness projects and legal technology initiatives and serves on the boards of various companies and non-governmental organisations. In recognition of his contributions to the legal profession, innovation, and public legal education, he has received several honors and awards, including being featured as Legal Personality of the Week by ThisDay Newspaper and by theNigeriaLawyer.
For more legal insights, resources, and Daily Law Tips, visit SabiLaw.org.
Is “Death” the Punishment for Snatching Ballot Boxes in Nigeria?
Is “Death” the Punishment for Snatching Ballot Boxes in Nigeria? Daily Law Tips (Tip 274)
By Onyekachi Umah,Esq.
Snatching of ballot boxes is an electoral offences and like all other electoral offences, it’s punishment is not death. The maximum punishment for snatching ballot boxes in any part of Nigeria is imprisonment for not more than 2 years.
Persons suspected of snatching electoral boxes are to be arrested by Police or private persons and handed over to Police. Then, Police can prosecute such suspects in court. It is only a judge after a trial in court that can declare punishment where an accused person (ie, suspect) is found guilty. No person has right to kill or beat any suspect of any crime including ballot box snatching.
References;
Section 118(1)(j), section 118(2) and 158 of the Electoral Act, 2010.
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#DailyLawTips
#SabiLaw
#LearnNigerianLaws
Is “Death” the Punishment for Snatching Ballot Boxes in Nigeria?
Feel free to reach the author, ask questions or make inquiries on this topic or any other via [email protected] or [email protected] or +2348037665878.
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This work is published under the free legal awareness project of Sabi Law Foundation (www.SabiLaw.org) funded by the law firm of Bezaleel Chambers International (www.BezaleelChambers.com). The writer was not paid or charged any publishing fee. You too can support the legal awareness projects and programs of Sabi Law Foundation by donating to us. Donate here and get our unique appreciation certificate or memento.
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Onyekachi Umah, FCIArb(UK)
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