Business
TRADEMARK TITAN: Entrepreneur Moves To Sue Niger Delta Chambers Over Alleged Intellectual Property Theft
TRADEMARK TITAN: Entrepreneur Moves To Sue Niger Delta Chambers Over Alleged Intellectual Property Theft
The battle for the soul of the Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit brand has reached a boiling point as entrepreneur Keunle Nwiya Junior prepares to drag the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture to court over alleged trademark theft.
This brewing legal storm centers on official records from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment which show that Mr. Nwiya was the first to secure the name.
He filed his application on July 17, 2023, and received a formal Acceptance for Class 41 on July 24, 2023.
However, documents show that the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce filed a same application years later on August 16, 2025.
The legal firm Lance and Coopers has now fired off a blistering complaint to the Registrar of Trademarks in Abuja, dated May 5, 2026, labeling the Chambers' move a rude shock and a blatant attempt to usurp a mark that had already been officially accepted.
Mr. Nwiya has voiced his frustration, claiming that rather than responding to official letters, the Chambers' leadership, including Chairman Idere, has displayed a high level of pride and attempted to resolve the matter through the back door with appeals for private meetings.
The entrepreneur remains firm that he will not be intimidated by the political or financial weight of the Chambers' board members, asserting that the name belongs to his brand and the intimidation must stop in Nigeria.
His solicitors have demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Chambers' application, warning that they are ready to seek full injunctive and corrective remedies in a court of law to protect their client's intellectual property.
