ABSTRACT

 

Globally in all jurisdictions, the courts of law are recognized as bodies vested with the authority of interpreting the law and applying the law to disputes between various parties. The primary and near exclusive duty of adjudication is mostly associated with the courts of law usually saddled with the responsibility of adjudicating on disputes between parties. However, the growth of modern day government has necessitated the empowering of various administrative agencies and tribunals outside of the law courts with the exercise of powers which are judicial or quasi-judicial nature. These bodies dispense justice though they are most often majorly constituted of persons who have no legal training or background though expected to be knowledgeable in they are over which it was established. Administrative adjudication is the process by which an administrative agency issues an order, such order being affirmative, negative, injunctive or declaratory in form. Most formal proceedings before an administrative agency follow the process of either rule making or adjudication. Rule making formulates policy by setting rules for the future conduct of persons governed by that agency. Adjudication applies the agency’s policy to the past actions of a particular party, and it results in an order for or against that party. It is a dispute resolution aspect of administrative action. It is pertinent to note that adjudication being the major function of the judicial arm, under the scope of this topic is being the major function of the judicial arm, under the  scope of this topic is being carried out by bodies other than the court due to delay of court processes  during adjudication. Thus, over the years, there has been an evolution of administrative adjudication and, as such it has become expedient for the functioning of modern government. The purpose of writing on this topic is to examine the doctrine of administrative adjudication. Its focus shall be on its importance and development in a legal system with particular reference to Nigeria at large. The control of administrative adjudication shall also be expounded in the course of writing.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                                      Pages

Titlepage    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        i

Declaration           -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        ii

Certification         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        iii

Dedication  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        iv

Acknowledgement         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        v

Abstract      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        vii

Table of Contents -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        viii

Table of Cases      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        xii

Table of Statutes  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        xix

List of Abbreviation      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        xx

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1            Background of Study     -        -        -        -        -        -        1

1.2            Statement of Problem    -        -        -        -        -        -        2

1.3            Purpose of the Study     -        -        -        -        -        -        3

1.4            Scope of the Study        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        4

1.5            Significance of the Study         -        -        -        -        -        -        4

1.6            Methodology and Organization of the Study       -        -        -        6

1.7            Literature Review -        -        -        -        -        -        -        7

1.7.1    Preamble     -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        7

1.7.2    What is so problematic about-administrative adjudication?   13

1.8            Definition of Terms       -        -        -        -        -        -        15

 

CHAPTER TWO

THE DOCTRINE OF ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION

2.1     The nature and Scope of Administrative Adjudication  -        17

2.2     Definition of Administrative Adjudication -        -        -        29

2.3     Problems of Administrative Adjudication  -        -        -        32

2.4     Justification for Administrative Adjudication      -        -        37

 

CHAPTER THREE

THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION

3.1     The Development of Administrative Adjudication        -        -        46

3.2     Rationale for the Establishment of Administrative Adjudication      51

3.3     Forms of Administrative Adjudication       -        -        -        -        57

3.3.1  Informal Adjudication   -        -        -        -        -        -        57

3.3.2  Formal Adjudication      -        -        -        -        -        -        63

3.4     Types of Tribunals        -        -        -        -        -        -        66

3.4.1  Statutory Tribunals       -        -        -        -        -        -        66

3.4.2  Military Tribunal           -        -        -        -        -        -        70

CHAPTER FOUR

CONTROL OF ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION

4.1     Constitutional Control   -        -        -        -        -        -        76

4.2     Right to Counsel  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        81

4.3     Allegation of Crime       -        -        -        -        -        -        82

4.4     Fair Hearing         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        86

 

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1     Summary    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        100

5.2     Conclusion -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        101

5.3     Recommendations         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        105

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CASES

Pages

Doma V. Ogori (1998) 3 NWLR (Pt. 541) p. 264 CA   -        -        12

Arzika V. Governor, Northern Region (1961) All NLR 374   -        12

Head, FMG v. Mill Gov. Mid West State, Exp. Obinyan (1973)

All NLR 930        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        12

Merchants Bank Ltd V. Federal Minister of Finance (1961) 1 All

NLR 598    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        12

National Electoral Commission (N. E. C) vs. Nzeribe (1991) 5 NWLR

(Pt. 192) 458 at 472       -        -        -        -        -        -        -        22

Onuoha V. Okafor (1985) 6 NCLR (Pt 503) at 509      -        -        -        24,31

LPDC v. Fawehinmi (1985) 1 NWLR pt 7,300 SC       -        -        -        27

Fawehinmi V. Abacha & Ors (1996) 5 NWLR pt 447, pg. 198 CA           27

Adigun V. A. G. Oyo State (987) 1 NWLR (pt. 385), 513      -        28

FCSC v. Laoye (1989) 2 NWLR pt. 106, pg 652 at 708         -        -        29,35

Attorney General of Ogun State & Ors V. Attorney General of the Federation & Ors (1982) 3 NLRI 166 SC       -        -        -        -        47

Doherty v. Balewa (1961) 1 ALL NLR 604         -        -        -        -        55

Fawehinmi Vs. Babangida (2003) 12 WRN 1 (2003) NLWR (pt 808)

at pg 604    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        56

Mathews V. Eldridge 424 U.S 319 (1976) -        -        -        -        65

McInnes V. On slow-Fane (1978) 1 WLR 1520   -        -        -        60

Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited v. FIRS N. R. L. R (Nigerian

Revenue Law Reports) (2013) 1 at 8          -        -        -        -        -        67

Ucha V. Onwe (2011)23 WRN 1 at 38 – 40 per Tabai JSC    -        69

Digyadi V. INEC (2011) 40 WRN 1 at 49 per; Adekeye JSC           -        69

Nabaruma V. Offodile (2005) 1 WRN 47 at 80 per Fabiyi JCA       -        69

Odede V. INEC (2000) 17 NWLR (pt.1117) at 554 per Niki Tobi

JSC   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        69

Oluyemi V. Asaolu (2009) 28 WRN 50 at 91 per Adekeye JCA      -        69

Abdullahi V. Elayo (1993) 1 NWLR (Pt. 218) at pg 171 at 197 per

Oguntade JSC      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        70

Orubu v. NEC (1988) 5 NWLR (pt 94) 33 at 347         -        -        -        70

Atiku Abubakar V. Attorney General of the Federation (2007) 3 NWLR (pt.1022) 546        -          -        -        -        -        -        -        -        70

CLO V. Nigeria (2001) 9-10 SC 92 at 114      &nbs

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