Lawyers accuse Corporate Affairs Commission of violating the Companies and Allied Matters Act after allegedly registering two incorporated trustees with the same name within 24 days, triggering concerns over the integrity of Nigeria’s electronic corporate registration system.
By A1NEWS International
ABUJA, Nigeria — July 31, 2026
The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Nigeria’s foremost corporate registry, is facing fresh legal scrutiny following allegations that it registered two separate incorporated trustees bearing the exact same name within 24 days, a development legal practitioners argue contravenes the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020.
The controversy, now the subject of a formal petition before the Registrar-General of the CAC, has reignited concerns over the reliability of the Commission’s electronic registration platform and the effectiveness of its safeguards against duplicate registrations.
Legal experts warn that if substantiated, the alleged error could undermine confidence in Nigeria’s corporate governance framework, expose organisations to identity disputes, and raise broader questions about the integrity of the country’s digital business registration infrastructure.
Petition Seeks Immediate Cancellation of Second Registration
At the centre of the dispute is the registration of UKU Secondary Commercial School Alumni Association, an incorporated trustee allegedly registered twice by the Corporate Affairs Commission under different registration numbers.
According to a petition submitted by the law firm Oshomegie & Co., acting on behalf of trustees Maliki Sylvanus Esikhotse Okuyelegbegbe and Maliki Iyafokhai John, the association was first lawfully incorporated on February 2, 2026, under Registration Number 9273595.
However, the solicitors alleged that on February 26, 2026, the Commission proceeded to register another incorporated trustee bearing the identical name under Registration Number 9372207, despite the existence of the earlier registration.
The petition insists that the second organisation has no legal, operational or administrative relationship with the original association.
Lawyers Cite Alleged Violation of CAMA 2020
The petition argues that the alleged duplicate registration violates Section 852(1)(a) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020, which prohibits the registration of an incorporated trustee under a name identical to that of an existing registered entity.
According to the solicitors, the law was enacted to prevent confusion, protect legal identity, and preserve public confidence in Nigeria’s corporate registration system.
They contend that by allegedly approving two organisations with the same corporate identity, the Commission may have inadvertently created legal uncertainty capable of generating prolonged disputes over ownership, governance, representation and the lawful use of the association’s name.
Public Portal Search Allegedly Revealed Duplicate Records
The petition further claims that independent searches conducted through the CAC’s public online portal confirmed the existence of both registrations.
The discovery, according to the lawyers, prompted an immediate demand for administrative intervention, including the withdrawal of the second certificate of incorporation and the removal of the later registration from the Commission’s database.
The solicitors maintain that the Commission possesses both the statutory authority and administrative responsibility to correct registration errors once identified.
Potential Legal and Corporate Governance Implications
Beyond the dispute involving the alumni association, legal analysts say the allegations highlight broader issues surrounding the integrity of Nigeria’s electronic corporate registration system.
Corporate registration serves as the legal foundation upon which businesses, non-governmental organisations, religious bodies, professional associations and incorporated trustees establish their legal personality.
A failure to adequately prevent duplicate registrations could expose organisations to numerous risks, including:
- Conflicting claims over corporate identity.
- Banking and financial transaction disputes.
- Litigation over ownership and representation.
- Contractual uncertainty.
- Loss of public confidence in registered entities.
- Increased exposure to fraud and impersonation.
Experts note that Nigeria’s transition to a fully digital registration system has significantly improved efficiency and reduced processing times, but they argue that automated platforms must be supported by rigorous verification mechanisms capable of detecting identical or deceptively similar names before certificates are issued.
Demand for Deregistration
The petition consequently requests the immediate deregistration of the incorporated trustee bearing Registration Number 9372207, alongside the withdrawal of the certificate allegedly issued in error.
The lawyers argue that maintaining both registrations would continue to create avoidable legal confusion and expose unsuspecting members of the public to uncertainty regarding the legitimate corporate identity of the association.
They insist that prompt corrective action is necessary to preserve confidence in the Commission’s statutory responsibilities under CAMA 2020.
CAC Yet to Respond
As of the time of filing this report, the Corporate Affairs Commission had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the petition.
It remains unclear whether the Commission has commenced an internal review of the registrations or whether the matter will proceed through administrative resolution or litigation.
Should the allegations be established, the case could become an important test of the Commission’s internal quality assurance procedures and the legal safeguards built into Nigeria’s electronic company registration architecture.
Renewed Focus on Digital Registration Integrity
The controversy comes as the CAC continues to digitise virtually every aspect of business registration and corporate compliance in Nigeria.
Over the past several years, the Commission has promoted its online registration portal as a major reform aimed at improving ease of doing business, reducing bureaucratic delays and enhancing transparency.
However, the present allegations are likely to intensify calls for stronger system audits, improved identity verification protocols, and enhanced automated screening mechanisms capable of preventing duplicate or conflicting registrations before certificates are issued.
Corporate governance experts say preserving the credibility of Nigeria’s corporate registry is essential to investor confidence, legal certainty and the country’s broader ease-of-doing-business agenda.
While the allegations remain untested and the Corporate Affairs Commission has yet to issue an official response, the petition has brought renewed attention to the integrity of Nigeria’s corporate registration framework.
If the claims are substantiated, the case could expose weaknesses in the Commission’s digital verification processes and prompt significant reforms aimed at strengthening compliance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
For thousands of businesses, associations and incorporated trustees that depend on the certainty of CAC registrations, the outcome may have implications far beyond a single alumni association, potentially shaping future confidence in Nigeria’s corporate regulatory environment.
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