Terms of Service
Last updated: [DATE — to be inserted upon counsel approval]
1. What Adaka Is
2. Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old and capable of entering a binding contract under Nigerian law to use Adaka.
3. Account Registration
You agree to provide accurate information during signup, including a valid Nigerian phone number for verification. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account access.
4. Services Offered
- Company name availability checks
- Company incorporation facilitation (CAC filing, via matched Lawyer)
- Will drafting facilitation
- Affidavit drafting and deposition facilitation
- General legal matter facilitation ("Cases")
Adaka does not guarantee the outcome of any legal filing, registration, or matter — outcomes depend on government processing (e.g. CAC, court registries) and the professional judgment of the matched Lawyer.
5. Fees and Payment
- Fees for each service are shown before you commit to payment.
- Where a service involves a government or third-party statutory fee (e.g. CAC filing fees, stamp duty, registry fees), the price shown to you may include Adaka's associated processing, handling, and administrative costs in addition to the statutory charge.
- Payments are processed via Paystack and held in escrow, releasing to the assigned Lawyer only as milestones of work are confirmed complete (see Section 7).
- Adaka charges a commission on the Lawyer's professional fee (currently 15%), which does not increase the amount you pay — it is deducted from the Lawyer's payout.
6. Lawyer Verification
Adaka verifies Lawyers against the Nigerian Bar Association's enrollment and practising records before they are eligible to be matched with Clients. Adaka does not guarantee the ongoing good standing, competence, or conduct of any Lawyer beyond this verification step, and is not liable for the professional acts or omissions of any Lawyer.
7. Escrow and Milestones
Funds you pay for a service are held by Adaka's payment processor and released to the assigned Lawyer only when:
- you confirm a milestone of work is complete, or
- a specified number of days pass after the Lawyer submits proof of work without you raising a dispute (auto-release).
You may raise a dispute on any funded milestone before release. Disputed funds are frozen pending review by Adaka.
8. Disputes and Cancellations
If you are dissatisfied with work performed, you may raise a dispute through the platform before funds release. If you need to cancel a request while work is in progress and funds are held in escrow, you may submit a cancellation request through the platform. In both cases, Adaka will review the matter and may resolve it by releasing funds to the Lawyer, refunding you, or splitting the amount, at Adaka's reasonable discretion based on the evidence provided by both parties. Adaka's dispute and cancellation resolution is not a substitute for legal remedies you may otherwise have.
9. Non-Circumvention
Clients and Lawyers agree not to use contact information or relationships formed through Adaka to conduct future business directly, bypassing the platform, for a period of 12 months following any engagement, except with Adaka's written consent.
10. Prohibited Uses
You may not use Adaka for any unlawful purpose, to submit fraudulent identification or company information, or to harass, threaten, or abuse another user or Lawyer.
11. Data Protection
Your personal data is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
12. Limitation of Liability
[To be completed by counsel]
13. Termination
Adaka may suspend or terminate an account for violation of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or as required by law.
14. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
15. Changes to These Terms
Adaka may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance.
16. Contact
[Insert registered business name, address, and contact email once the Adaka entity is formally registered.]