This is a companion volume to The Law of Evidence in Nigeria (Aguada, 1974). It specifically reports Nigerian cases conducted under Nigerian jurisdiction and the principles of stare decisis in Nigerian jurisprudence, as opposed to cases under foreign jurisdiction, and therefore addresses a perceived imbalance in the documentation of decisions under Nigerian law of evidence as against foreign decisions. The work is organised under the following headings: preliminary matters; relevancy; proof; documents; production and effect of evidence; and witnesses. The author is a member of th Nigerian Court of Appeal and has written on many aspects of Nigerian law, particularly women's and human rights issues.

Attempts to Import Weapons

Nigeria, the United States’ most important strategic partner in West Africa, is in grave trouble. While Nigerians often claim they are masters of dancing on the brink without falling off, the disastrous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, the radical Islamic insurrection Boko Haram, and escalating violence in the delta and the north may finally provide the impetus that pushes it into the abyss of state failure. In this thoroughly updated edition, John Campbellexplores Nigeria’s post-colonial history and presents a nuanced explanation of the events and conditions that have carried this complex, dynamic, and very troubled giant to the edge. Central to his analysis are the oil wealth, endemic corruption, and elite competition that have undermined Nigeria’s nascent democratic institutions and alienated an increasingly impoverished population. However, state failure is not inevitable, nor is it in the interest of the United States. Campbell provides concrete new policy options that would not only allow the United States to help Nigeria avoid state failure but also to play a positive role in Nigeria’s political, social, and economic development.

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.

The contributions to this volume focus on a diverse array of topics in international law, with scholarly interventions from experts in the field, both in academia and the judiciary, as well as case commentary on a recent decision of the International Court of Justice (Chagos Decision). The theoretical and methodological breadth of the issues covered are relevant to audiences beyond the Nigerian and African intellectual space. In particular, this volume includes analysis on critical intellectual property law questions; intersections of national, regional and international law and technology; the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement; and maritime law. The authoritative views of the experts on the different issues covered in this volume make excellent contributions to their relevant fields.

Traditional separation of powers theories assumed that governmental despotism will be prevented by dividing the branches of government which will check one another. Modern governments function with unexpected complicity among these branches. Sometimes one of the branches becomes overwhelming. Other governmental structures, however, tend to mitigate these tendencies to domination. Among other structures courts have achieved considerable autonomy vis-à-vis the traditional political branches of power. They tend to maintain considerable distance from political parties in the name of professionalism and expertise. The conditions and criteria of independence are not clear, and even less clear are the conditions of institutional integrity. Independence (including depolitization) of public institutions is of particular practical relevance in the post-Communist countries where political partisanship penetrated institutions under the single party system. Institutional integrity, particularly in the context of administration of justice, became a precondition for accession to the European Union. Given this practical challenge the present volume is centered around three key areas of institutional integrity, primarily within the administration of justice: First, in a broader theoretical-interdisciplinary context the criteria of institutional independence are discussed. The second major issue is the relation of neutralized institutions to branches of government with reference to accountability. Thirdly, comparative experience regarding judicial independence is discussed to determine techniques to enhance integrity.

The majority of decisions are from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.