Court Order Suspends Niger Delta Economic And Investment Summit Over ₦5bn IP Dispute

The Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit scheduled to hold from September 15 to 17, 2026, has been temporarily halted following a legal dispute over ownership of the intellectual property rights associated with the event.

The suit, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, was instituted by Kenule Nwiya Junior against the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture and the Registrar of Trademarks.

Nwiya is challenging the alleged unauthorised use of his intellectual property, including the name and mark associated with the “Niger Delta Economic & Investment Summit.” He is asking the court to declare him the lawful owner of the disputed intellectual property and is seeking ₦5 billion in damages.

Ruling on an ex-parte application seeking to stop the summit from proceeding, Justice Obiorah Egwuatu ordered the parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the dispute.

Justice Egwuatu, who was sitting as a vacation judge, has since returned the case file to the court registry for reassignment to a regular judge. No date has been fixed for the substantive hearing.

The plaintiff’s counsel, Chibuike Ezeokworah, and Nwiya are expected to provide further details on the legal action and the basis of the intellectual property claim.