Due Process in Nigeria's Administrative Law System


Book Description

This book, which relies on primary and secondary printed sources and a series of interviews with affected persons, lawyers, judges, and customary court presidents in Nigeria, focuses on the place of due process in the Nigerian legal system. Uwakah is concerned about the abuse of this important fundamental right in his country. The purpose of the book is to examine how due process operates in Nigeria and whether the coexistence of the customary law, the English common law, the Moslem law, and the martial law systems in Nigeria hinders or enhances due process in the country. Finally, the study investigates the suitability of the British version of due process to Nigeria, since the concept is imported to the country. The book concludes that the British version of due process is unsuitable to Nigeria because the country's political, economic, social, and religious backgrounds substantially differ from those of Britain. This conclusion is premised on the consensus of the interviewees. Uwakah recommends the country's immediate transition from military to civilian rule.




Separation of Powers in African Constitutionalism


Book Description

The effective division of powers is critical to ensuring the promotion of good governance, democracy, and the rule of law in Africa. This book examines key issues arising during reforms of African constitutions, and focuses on the emergence of independent constitutional institutions providing checks against future abuses of powers.




General Principles of Law and International Due Process


Book Description

Article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice defines "international law" to include not only "custom" and "convention" between States but also "the general principles of law recognized by civilized nations" within their municipal legal systems. In 1953, Bin Cheng wrote his seminal book on general principles, identifying core legal principles common to various domestic legal systems across the globe. This monograph summarizes and analyzes the general principles of law and norms of international due process, with a particular focus on developments since Cheng's writing. The aim is to collect and distill these principles and norms in a single volume as a practical resource for international law jurists, advocates, and scholars. The information contained in this book holds considerable importance given the growth of inter-state intercourse resulting in the increased use of general principles over the past 60 years. General principles can serve as rules of decision, whether in interpreting a treaty or contract, determining causation, or ascertaining unjust enrichment. They also include a core set of procedural requirements that should be followed in any adjudicative system, such as the right to impartiality and the prohibition on fraud. Although the general principles are, by definition, basic and even rudimentary, they hold vital importance for the rule of law in international relations. They are meant not to define a rule of law, but rather the rule of law.




The Nigerian Legal System


Book Description

Volume 1 on public law provides an introduction to the Nigerian legal system. The various chapters deal with: introduction and sources of law; jurisprudence and Nigerian perspectives; African customary law; Islamic law; comparative constitutionalism and Nigerian perspectives; citizenship, immigration and administrative law; judicial system and legal profession; criminal law, evidence and civil procedure; statutory marriage and divorce laws; customary marriage and divorce; marriage and divorce under Islamic law; matters of children; gender and law in Nigeria with emphasis on Islamic law. Volume 2 has 25 chapters on private law that includes security of the environment and environmental law, land and property administration, commercial business and trade laws, communication, media and press laws, transportation and carrier laws, law enforcement, armed forces and military laws, investments, and intellectual property.




Promoting Foreign Judgments


Book Description

In many African countries, litigants experience significant uncertainty in their attempts to enforce foreign judgments. Drawing on the experiences of the United Kingdom and the United States (vis-à-vis efforts to attain an effective global legal framework on foreign judgments), this book undertakes a comparative analysis of how South African and Nigerian courts can promote the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in a fair manner. This comparative analysis is made considering both African countries as paradigms of their respective legal traditions. The author, a legal consultant and academic in private international law analyses, stage by stage, the challenging process that litigants face when they seek to enforce foreign judgments in South Africa and Nigeria. This analysis includes insightful consideration of broader issues such as the following: how challenges faced by judgment creditors may be circumvented; practical issues impeding the free movement of foreign judgments; impact of globalisation, increase in international commercial transactions, and regionalism on private international law; application of ‘fairness’; how territorial sovereignty and State interests in international commerce impede the free movement of foreign judgments; and ‘qualified obligation’, under which courts would presumptively enforce foreign judgments subject to certain exceptions and to the balancing of competing interests between private litigants and the State. The comparative analysis is undergirded by relevant case law – spanning decades in Africa and centuries in Europe and the United States. In summary, the author projects a clear case for predictability and certainty in the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, as well as how to go about it, thus offering lawyers a strategic position to weigh their options in contemplating enforcement of foreign judgments in any jurisdiction even beyond the African region. This innovative approach will also be of particular value to policymakers at national levels, international and regional economic organisations, as well as scholars in private international law and international commercial law generally. This is regardless of their specific legal area or niche, especially considering the dearth of literature in African private international law.




Internally Displaced Persons and the Law in Nigeria


Book Description

This book examines the national legal frameworks in place for internally displaced people in Nigeria and considers how they can be extended to provide further legal protection. Despite a growing global awareness of the importance of developing solutions to the problem of internal displacement, how that translates to national level response is often under-researched. This book focuses on Nigeria, where conflict and violence continue to drive high levels of displacement. The book begins by examining the definitions and causes of internal displacement in the national context, before considering the state of national law, and the applicability of the Kampala Convention for furthering protection and assistance for internally displaced persons. This book will be of interest to researchers of African studies and internal displacement, as well as to policy makers, civil society organizations, humanitarian actors and other regional and international stakeholders.







Fair and Equitable Treatment and the Rule of Law


Book Description

By comprehensively investigating the Fair and Equitable Treatment Standard (FET), this discerning book presents how this standard in investment treaty disputes can be both legally justified and realistically beneficial. It reflects on how FET jurisprudence can be advantageous to both the rule of law and to the legitimacy of the international investment regime.




Commitment and Due Process


Book Description




Administrative Law in Nigeria


Book Description

A full overview of administrative law in Nigeria is provided. Amongst topics covered are: scope, distinguishing administrative from constitutional law, the particularities of the Nigerian situation, the rule of law, separation of powers, delegated legislation, executive control, administrative adjudication, judicial control or review of administrative actions, understanding the concept of fair hearing, ex-parte applications, prerogative remedies, certiorari, case method approach of determining bodies, acting judicially and administratively, common law remedies, injunctions, declaration, local government under the 1999 Constitution, the National Assembly, and the State Houses of Assembly. The authors are lecturers at the Faculty of Law, Kogi State University, Ayangba, Kogi State, Nigeria and barristers and solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.