Title: Bridging legal frameworks: assessing the potential impact of Nigeria's ratification of the United Nations Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships on Nigerian Maritime Law

Authors: Damilola I. Osinuga

Addresses: DOLP Consulting, 229 Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract: This article investigates the potential implications of the United Nations Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships ('the Beijing Convention') and its recognition for Nigerian jurisprudence. The Convention, which was finalised by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and other international organisations, was signed on September 5, 2023, in Beijing, China. This convention aims to establish a comprehensive framework for recognising and enforcing foreign judicial sales of ships. This article explores the alignment of Nigeria's existing legal framework for judicial sales with the Beijing Convention and assesses the necessity of domesticating the Beijing Convention within the Nigerian legal system. Through an analysis of relevant Nigerian legislation and scholarly discourse, this study evaluates the potential benefits, challenges, and opportunities arising from the Beijing Convention on Nigerian jurisprudence. The findings aim to contribute to the ongoing discussions on harmonising international maritime law as well as provide valuable insights for policymakers and scholars interested in the intersection of maritime law and cross-border judicial sales.

Keywords: judicial sale; enforcement; recognition; ships; Nigeria; Maritime Law; Beijing Convention.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLAP.2026.150294

International Journal of Public Law and Policy, 2026 Vol.12 No.1, pp.59 - 78

Received: 07 Nov 2023
Accepted: 17 Mar 2024
Published online: 08 Dec 2025 *

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