AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
A final money judgment from a superior court in the UK can be registered in Nigeria under the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Ordinance 1922, provided you apply within 12 months of the judgment. Once registered, it is enforced like a Nigerian judgment. Miss the window, or hold a non-money order, and you generally have to sue afresh in Nigeria on the judgment as a debt.
A judgment in an English court is only as useful as the debtor's assets within reach. If the person or company that owes you has its money, property or business in Nigeria, the UK judgment has to be recognised by a Nigerian court before a sheriff there will act on it. Nigeria has a statutory route for UK judgments, but it has conditions and a short time limit. This article explains them using a June 2026 guide by the Lagos firm Adeola Oyinlade & Co. It is information, not legal advice; you will need a Nigerian lawyer to file.
The two laws
Two statutes sit side by side. The Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Ordinance 1922 (Cap 175, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and Lagos 1958) allows judgments from superior courts in the UK and other designated Commonwealth territories to be registered directly. The Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act (Cap F35) was meant to extend reciprocal registration to other countries by ministerial order. The guide notes that orders have not been made for many jurisdictions, including the US, so for those the statutory route is largely theoretical. UK judgment creditors are in the better position: the 1922 route is open to them.
Conditions the judgment must meet
- Final and conclusive between the parties in the UK court.
- A definite sum of money, not a fine, tax, penalty or punitive damages.
- Proper jurisdiction over the debtor in the UK court, such as the debtor submitting to it or carrying on business there.
- Natural justice observed. The guide warns that default judgments are heavily scrutinised in Nigeria, so evidence that the debtor was properly served matters.
Non-money orders, such as injunctions or orders for specific performance, are described in the guide as immensely difficult to enforce in Nigeria.
The 12-month window
Under the 1922 Ordinance, the application must be brought within 12 months from the date of the judgment. This is the single most important date in the process. If you are pursuing a debtor and know their assets are in Nigeria, instruct a Nigerian lawyer early rather than waiting to see whether they pay.
Steps in a registration
- Certified copy. Obtain a certified, authenticated copy of the UK judgment. The guide notes this is often apostilled or consularly sealed; see apostilling UK documents for Nigeria.
- Application. Your lawyer files an ex parte motion or motion on notice with supporting affidavit exhibiting the judgment. The guide describes filing at the Federal High Court and notes that its jurisdiction covers specific sectors such as banking, aviation, admiralty, intellectual property and company matters, while State High Courts handle general commercial contracts. Your lawyer will advise which court fits your case.
- Registration order is granted if the judge is satisfied.
- Notice of registration is served on the debtor, who can apply to set it aside within a short window the guide gives as usually 14 days.
- Execution through Nigerian methods such as a garnishee order against bank accounts or a writ of fieri facias against goods.
If you are out of time: suing on the judgment
Where registration is not available, the creditor sues in Nigeria treating the UK judgment as a debt. The guide describes filing a writ and statement of claim, then applying for summary judgment on the basis that the debtor has no defence; if no triable issue is raised, judgment is entered and executed as a domestic order. The limitation period for this common law route is given as 6 years, with the guide noting longer periods are argued in some cases. It takes longer and costs more than registration.
For smaller sums there is a further option. Lagos runs small claims courts for liquidated money demands up to ₦5,000,000, excluding interest and costs, under a 2023 Practice Direction, where the claimant or defendant lives or does business in Lagos or the claim arose there. That is a fresh claim, not enforcement of the UK judgment, so it suits only simple debts.
Currency
The guide says creditors can enforce in the original foreign currency or convert to naira at the official exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Nigeria at the time of application. Ask your lawyer which is better for your debtor's assets; if what you recover is in naira, you will then need a route to move it to the UK. See converting naira to pounds after moving to the UK.
What to check first
- The date of the UK judgment, and how many of the 12 months are left.
- Whether it is a final money judgment, and whether it was a default judgment.
- Evidence of how the debtor was served in the UK proceedings.
- What assets the debtor has in Nigeria and where they are.
- A Nigerian lawyer's written estimate of fees and timing before you commit.
Where Pryme fits
If you recover money in Nigeria, it needs to land in an account in your name. A Pryme Personal Account opened from the UK gives you naira account details and pounds in the same place, so recovered naira can sit in naira until you choose to convert with Swap; the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. More on the multicurrency account.
Questions people ask
Can an English county court judgment be enforced in Nigeria?
The 1922 Ordinance covers judgments of superior courts in the UK. Whether a particular court's judgment qualifies is a question for a Nigerian lawyer; if it does not, you can sue on the judgment as a debt.
How long do I have to register a UK judgment in Nigeria?
Twelve months from the date of the judgment under the 1922 Ordinance. After that, you generally have to bring a fresh action on the judgment debt.
Can a UK default judgment be registered in Nigeria?
Possibly, but Nigerian courts scrutinise default judgments closely, especially service and natural justice. Keep full evidence of service.
Can I recover the money in pounds?
The 2026 guide says creditors can enforce in the original currency or convert to naira at the CBN's official rate at the time of application.
Sources
- Mondaq (Adeola Oyinlade & Co): Enforcing UK and US judgments in the Nigerian Federal High Court, 24 Jun 2026 · accessed Oct 2026
- Lagos State Small Claims Court Practice Directions 2023 (copy dated 17 Dec 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.