By Uche Onyeali
Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, and the National Judicial Institute, NJI, have educated judges on the provisions of the new Investment and Securities Act, ISA, 2025.
Speaking at a two-day workshop for judges, the Director-General, SEC, Dr Emomotimi Agama said the workshop was part of the commission’s commitment toward ensuring that the provisions of ISA 2025 are widely disseminated, discussed and fully understood.
Agama said the goal is to restore investors confidence, bring timely succour to aggrieved investors and create a broad-based participation of Nigerians in wealth creation.
He added that the workshop was part of the commission’s objective to engage the judiciary in all aspects of capital market operations, especially on the specialised law, regulations and ethics upon which market integrity heavily relies on.
According to him, the workshop will deepen understanding of capital market laws under ISA 2025, explore emerging judicial trends in securities litigation and strengthen ethical decision-making in financial disputes.
“As judges, your interpretation of these provisions will set legal precedents that will shape market behaviour for decades.
“Furthermore, recent cases have highlighted the need for judicial preparedness.
“This workshop will therefore provide practical case studies on capital market litigation, foster dialogue between judges, regulators and market operators and equip the judiciary with the tools to handle sophisticated financial crimes,” Agama said.
Speaking, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun said the workshop was a platform for self-examination and renewal; a crucible for deepening judges understanding of the demands that modern financial adjudication places on the Bench.
Kekere-Ekun, who was represented by a Justice of the Supreme Court, Stephen Adah, said judges must acknowledge the emergence of new financial frontiers—digital assets, cryptocurrency transactions, green financing instruments and transnational securities.
In his address, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Market, Senator Osita Izunaso said the one trillion dollar economy target of the federal government could only be achieved with a strengthened capital market.
Izunaso commended SEC for the workshop, saying it would better equip judges on developing intricacies in the capital market.
He called on SEC to also engage the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and the public to unveil the content of ISA, 2025.
On his part, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun said the engagement was a testament to the ongoing commitment of SEC and the NJI to the promotion of the rule of law and entrenchment of financial market neutrality.
Edun, represented by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, said the regulatory oversight of the country’s capital market is central to attracting investments, promoting financial inclusion and supporting entrepreneurship.
Also speaking, the Administrator of NJI, Justice Salisu Abdullahi said the institute remains committed to advancing the frontiers of knowledge through programmes that are relevant, rigorous and forward-looking.
The workshop had as theme: ‘Repositioning the Nigerian Capital Market for National Economic Transformation through Effective Dispute Resolution.”
