REAL TALK WITH MIMI

02/08/2026

Can You Lend Money to a Friend Without a Written Agreement?

Many people lend money to friends or relatives based on trust alone. While trust is important, it is not always enough when a dispute arises. As a lawyer, my advice is simple: document every loan, no matter how close the relationship is.

A written agreement helps to clearly state:

* The amount borrowed.
* The repayment date.
* Whether interest is payable (if any).
* The obligations of both parties.

Although oral agreements can be legally enforceable in Nigeria, they are often much more difficult to prove in court. If there is no written agreement, you may have to rely on witnesses, bank transfers, chats, emails, or other evidence to establish that the money was a loan and not a gift.

Remember, the court decides cases based on credible evidence, not emotions or goodwill. A simple signed agreement can save you from unnecessary conflict, preserve relationships, and make it easier to enforce your rights if repayment becomes an issue.

A transfer receipt (bank transfer receipt) is certainly evidence, but it is not conclusive proof that the money was a loan.

However, it does not, by itself, prove the purpose of the transfer. If the recipient denies borrowing the money, they might claim it was:

* a gift,
* financial support,
* payment for goods or services,
* or repayment of an earlier debt.

Legal Tip: Before lending money even to your closest friend or family member put the terms in writing and ensure both parties sign it. Protecting yourself is not a sign of distrust; it is a sign of wisdom.

Document today. Protect your money. Protect your peace.

31/07/2026

🚨 🚨 🚨 Imagine this: You finish mopping a floor. Minutes later, someone slips, suffers fatal injuries, and dies. 😳

Are you criminally liable under Nigerian law?

Merely mopping a floor does not automatically make the cleaner criminally liable if someone falls and dies.

Under Nigerian law, the prosecution must prove that the death resulted from a breach of a legal duty of care and that the breach caused the death.

1. Could the cleaner be liable?

Yes, potentially, if for example:

* She mopped the floor and failed to place any warning sign despite knowing the floor was dangerously slippery;
* She created the hazard through negligence;
* The victim slipped because of that hazard; and
* The injuries from the fall caused the victim’s death.

If those facts are established, the cleaner (and possibly her employer) may incur legal liability.

2. What offence?

If the negligence caused the death, the likely criminal offence under the Criminal Code Act (applicable in Southern Nigeria, including Anambra) is manslaughter, not murder.

The relevant provisions are:

* Section 304, Criminal Code Act:
“It is the duty of every person who has in his charge or under his control anything… of such a nature that, in the absence of care or precaution in its use or management, the life, safety or health of any person may be endangered, to use reasonable care and take reasonable precautions to avoid such danger…”
* Section 305, Criminal Code Act:
A person who undertakes an act which may be dangerous to human life has a duty to perform it with due care, and is taken to have caused the consequences resulting from failing to perform that duty.
* Section 317, Criminal Code Act:
“A person who unlawfully kills another in such circumstances as not to constitute murder is guilty of manslaughter.”

3. What about the employer?

The employer or owner of the premises may also face:

* Civil liability for negligence (damages to the deceased’s family); and
* In appropriate circumstances, criminal liability where the facts show a failure to provide a safe environment or adequate safety measures.

A person is not automatically guilty simply because someone died after slipping on a wet floor. The court will consider:

* Was there a “Wet Floor” warning sign?
* Was the area cordoned off?
* Was the floor left dangerously wet?
* Did the victim ignore obvious warnings?
* Did the victim’s own conduct contribute to the accident?
* Was the fall actually the cause of death?

To business owners, cleaners, facility managers, and property owners: never underestimate your duty of care. If you are cleaning a floor or creating any temporary hazard, always place visible warning signs, cordon off the area where necessary, and take every reasonable precaution to prevent accidents.

To members of the public: always pay attention to warning signs and exercise caution in areas that may be slippery. Safety is a shared responsibility.

Stay safe! Stay vigilante!🙏🏽

31/07/2026

BUSINESS OWNERS, LET’S TALK! Is Your “No Refund” Policy Actually Legal in Nigeria? ✅❌🚷

Now what is the position of the law?👩🏼‍⚖️

In Nigeria, hiding under the umbrella of “No Refund” or “No Return” policy is not automatically enforceable. A business cannot rely on such a policy to take away rights that consumers have under the law. The governing law is the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which gives consumers specific rights to refunds, repairs, replacements, or other remedies in appropriate cases.

If goods are defective, unsafe, fake, or not as described, the consumer may be entitled to a refund, repair, or replacement despite a “No Refund” notice.
If goods are not fit for the purpose the buyer made known to the seller before purchase, the buyer may reject them and seek a refund.
If a service is not provided as agreed, the customer may also be entitled to a refund or other appropriate remedy.
So Be sure to deliver exactly the services you have described in public to your prospective consumers and save yourself any drama and consumers do not pick up a “refund request” where there are no defaults.

What are your thoughts? Have you ever been denied a refund because of a ‘No Refund’ policy? Share your experience in the comments.”🤔

30/07/2026

COMMITTED TO QUALITY, DEDICATED TO YOU! 📌

15/01/2026