A business or person in Nigeria can get most Indian legal work done remotely. As far as we know, the Apostille Convention is not in force between Nigeria and India, so documents are signed before a Nigerian notary, authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja and attested by the High Commission of India in Abuja or the Consulate General in Lagos; check current status first. Nigerian judgments need a fresh suit in India, so contracts with Indian parties should use arbitration.
- Document route
- Nigerian notary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication, then Indian mission attestation
- Time difference
- IST is 4h30 ahead of Nigeria all year (no daylight saving)
- Foreign judgments in India
- Not reciprocating: fresh suit
- Apostille with India
- Not in force as far as we know: consular attestation (check current status)
Nigeria and India: trade, expatriates and typical matters
Indian trading families have been in Nigeria since before independence, and today Indian companies are active in pharmaceuticals, vehicles and two-wheelers, steel, telecoms, consumer goods and manufacturing. India is a large buyer of Nigerian crude oil, and Nigeria imports medicines, machinery, vehicles and food products from India. Many Indian engineers, managers and doctors work in Lagos, Abuja and the oil and gas centres, while Nigerian students and patients travel to India for education and treatment.
The work that comes to us from Nigeria is mostly commercial. Nigerian companies set up Indian subsidiaries or sourcing offices; importers need supply and distribution contracts; buyers who paid an Indian supplier and received nothing want to recover their money; and businesses targeted by fake suppliers online need help with cyber fraud complaints in India. Indian expatriates in Nigeria need powers of attorney for property and bank work at home.
Signing and legalising documents in Nigeria
As far as we know, the Hague Apostille Convention is not in force between Nigeria and India, so Nigerian documents for India follow the consular route. Check the current status before you start. The usual steps are:
- Sign before a Nigerian notary public, a legal practitioner commissioned as a notary, with your passport.
- Have the notary's signature authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, or a liaison office where available.
- Have the document attested by the High Commission of India in Abuja or the Consulate General of India in Lagos, depending on which mission serves your area.
- Courier the original to India for stamping within three months of receipt.
Corporate documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission, such as the certificate of incorporation and the status report showing directors and shareholders, are certified by the CAC and then follow the same route. Indian documents going to Nigeria are attested by the Ministry of External Affairs and then legalised by the Nigerian High Commission in New Delhi. Our page on apostille and attestation explains the Indian steps.
Most requested services from Nigeria
These are the six services Nigerian clients ask us for most often. Each page explains how the work runs from Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt, from the notary and attestation steps to the Indian registrar, court or police.
Company Setup for Foreigners
Nigerian companies open Indian subsidiaries to source pharmaceuticals, machinery and consumer goods directly.
Commercial Contracts
High-value imports from India need contracts with payment security and an enforceable dispute clause.
Money Recovery from India
Nigerian buyers who paid Indian suppliers without delivery need practical routes to recover the money.
Cyber & Investment Fraud
Nigerian businesses and Indian expatriates are targeted by fake suppliers, impersonation and payment diversion scams.
Power of Attorney
Indian professionals in Nigeria need attorney holders at home to manage property, bank and court matters.
Apostille & Attestation
Documents between Nigeria and India need consular attestation rather than an apostille.
Tax and moving money between Nigeria and India
We do not assume treaty relief for Nigerian residents. Check whether a comprehensive tax treaty between India and Nigeria is in force before relying on reduced rates; otherwise Indian domestic withholding rates apply to dividends, interest, royalties and fees paid to Nigerian residents. Indian payers deduct tax at source, and the Nigerian recipient may be able to claim credit at home under Nigerian rules, which should be checked with a Nigerian tax adviser.
For Indian expatriates in Nigeria, NRO account balances, rent and property sale proceeds can be repatriated up to USD 1 million per financial year with Forms 15CA and 15CB. Nigerian foreign exchange rules have changed several times in recent years, so businesses moving money from Nigeria to India for investment should work with their Nigerian bank to make sure the transfer is properly documented. Indian authorities expect inward investment to come through banking channels with clear records.
Nigerian judgments and commercial disputes in India
Nigeria is not a reciprocating territory under section 44A of the Code of Civil Procedure. A Nigerian money judgment against an Indian party can only support a fresh suit in India, where the defendant may raise the objections in section 13, such as lack of jurisdiction, a judgment not on the merits or a breach of natural justice. In practice, a Nigerian business with a claim against an Indian supplier usually does better to sue or arbitrate in India from the start.
For trade contracts, arbitration with a seat whose awards India enforces under the New York Convention route is usually the strongest protection, provided the seat is notified by India under section 44 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. Commercial courts in India handle disputes above the specified value, and most claims require pre-institution mediation first. Insolvency proceedings can be used against an Indian company owing an undisputed operational debt above ₹1 crore, which often brings a defaulting supplier to the table.
Practical points for clients in Nigeria
Nigeria is four and a half hours behind India throughout the year. A 9 am call in Lagos is 1.30 pm in Mohali, and the Nigerian morning overlaps comfortably with the Indian afternoon. Courier from Lagos or Abuja to North India usually takes five to ten working days, and we always review scans before you send originals.
The attestation route takes longer than an apostille and depends on appointment availability at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian mission, so plan two to four weeks. Before paying any Indian supplier for the first time, verify its registration on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs portal and its GST number, and be wary of suppliers who change bank details by email. Many fraud cases we see involve payments made to accounts that the supplier later disowns.
All services for clients in Nigeria
NRI Property Law
- Property Disputes
- Encroachment & Illegal Possession
- Partition of Family Property
- Buying & Selling Property
- Title Search & Due Diligence
- Tenant Eviction
- Builder Delay & RERA
Inheritance & Documents
Cross-Border Family Law
- Divorce for NRIs
- International Child Custody
- Maintenance & Alimony
- Marriage Registration
- 498A & Dowry Case Defence
- OCI Card Issues
Doing Business in India
- Company Setup for Foreigners
- Indian Subsidiary Setup
- Branch & Liaison Office
- FDI & FEMA Compliance
- Trademark Protection in India
- Commercial Contracts
- Employment Law for Foreign Employers
- GST for Foreign Businesses
- Investing in Indian Startups
- Legal Advisory for NRI Investors
Disputes & Enforcement
- International Arbitration
- Enforcing Foreign Judgments
- Money Recovery from India
- Shareholder Disputes & NCLT
- Accident Compensation Claims
- Cyber & Investment Fraud
- Criminal Defence & Look Out Circulars
Cross-Border Tax & Money
Indian missions in Nigeria
The High Commission in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos provide passport, visa, OCI and attestation services.
- High Commission of India, Abuja
- Consulate General of India, Lagos
Frequently asked questions
Is an apostille from Nigeria accepted in India?
As far as we know, the Apostille Convention is not in force between Nigeria and India, so documents follow consular attestation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian mission. Check current status before starting.
Can a Nigerian court judgment be enforced in India?
Not directly. Nigeria is not a reciprocating territory, so the judgment holder must file a fresh suit in India, subject to the objections in section 13.
Is there a tax treaty between India and Nigeria?
Check before relying on one. If no treaty is in force, Indian domestic withholding rates apply to payments to Nigerian residents.
Can a Nigerian company set up a subsidiary in India?
Yes, in most sectors under the automatic route. The CAC documents and board resolution are attested and filed with the Indian registrar.
I paid an Indian supplier who never shipped. What can I do?
Send a legal notice with proof of payment and contract. If that fails, a commercial suit, arbitration or insolvency proceedings may be possible, and a criminal complaint if there was deliberate fraud.
How do I report online fraud by an Indian company from Nigeria?
File a complaint on India's National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and with the local police where the fraudster or bank account is located. Your Indian lawyer can follow up and seek freezing of funds.
Can I sign a power of attorney for India at the Indian mission in Lagos?
Yes, if you are an Indian citizen and the Consulate offers the service. This avoids the separate foreign ministry authentication.
Do I need to travel to India?
Usually not. Documents are signed and attested in Nigeria, and we appear for you. Evidence in contested cases may need video or personal appearance.