TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                -        -        -        -        -        -        i

Certification                            -        -        -        -        -        -        -        ii

Dedication                               -        -        -        -        -        -        iii

Acknowledgement                   -        -        -        -        -        -        iv

Table of Contents                    -        -        -        -        -        -        v

Table of Cases               -        -        -        -        -        -        -        ix

Table of Statutes                      -        -        -        -        -        -        xiv

List of Abbreviations              -        -        -        -        -        -        xv

Abstract      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -       xvi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study        -        -        -        -        -        -        1

1.2     Statement of the Problem        -        -        -        -        -       -        2

1.3     Scope of the Study        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        4

1.4     Objectives of the Study  -        -        -        -        -        -        5

1.5     Research Methodology- -        -        -        -        -        -        11

1.6     Literature Review -        -        -        -        -        -        -        11

1.7     Definition of Terms       -        -        -        -        -       -        14

CHAPTER TWO: PURPOSES OF INTERPRETATION OF STATUTES

2.1     Introduction                   -        -        -        -        -        -       -        18

2.2     The Judiciary as an Arm of Government    -      -          -        19

2.3     The Establishment of the Judiciary in Nigeria-              -        -       20

2.4     The Major Functions of the Judiciary         -        -       -        -        22

2.5     The Purposes of the Interpretation of Statutes-   -        -        23

2.6     The Need for Care in Applying Statutes    -       -        -        24

CHAPTER THREE: AIDS TO INTERPRETATION OF STATUTES

3.1     Introduction                   -        -        -        -        -        -       -        26

3.2     Internal or Intrinsic Aids         -        -        -        -        -        -        27

3.3     External or Extrinsic Aids       -        -        -        -        -        34

3.4     Presumptions in Statutory interpretation   -        -        -        36

3.5     Examples of Presumptions     -        -        -        -        -        37

3.6     Interpretation of a Constitution        -        -        -        -        -        40

CHAPTER FOUR: THE MAIN RULES OF INTERPRETATION OF STATUTES

4.1     Introduction                   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        48

4.2     The Literal Rule             -        -        -        -        -        -        50

4.21   Merits of the Literal Rule        -        -        -        -        -        -        55

4.22   Demerits of the Literal Rule    -        -        -        -        -        56

4.3     The Golden Rule  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        58

4.31   Merits of the Golden Rule       -        -        -        -        -        65

4.32   Demerits of the Golden Rule   -        -        -        -        -        66

4.4     The Mischief Rule                   -        -        -        -        -        -        66

4.41   Merits of the Mischief Rule-    -        -        -        -        -        72

4.42   Criticisms of the Mischief Rule         -        -        -        -        -        73

4.5     Other Rules of Interpretation of Statutes   -        -        -        74

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSSION AND            RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1     Summary                       -        -        -        -        -        -        79

5.2     Conclusion           -        -        -        -        -        -        -        81

5.3     Recommendations         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        83

          Bibliography                  -        -        -        -        -        -        92     

TABLE OF CASES

Awolowo v Minister of internal Affairs (1962) LLR 177                               1

Awolowo v Sarki (1966) All NLR 171                                                          1

Seaford Court Estate Ltd V Asher (1949)

 2 KB 481 at 498 – 499                                                                      2

R.S. Nayak v A.R. Antulay, AIR 1984 SC 684                                              3

Grasim Industries Ltd. v Collector of Customs,

Bombay, (2002)4 SCC 297                                                                3

Commissioner v. Church, 335 U.S. 632, 677 (1948) .                        5

Colegrove v. Green, 328 U.S. 549 (1946);                                         6

Co. v. B. G. Corporation, 130 F.2d 290 (1942) .                              7

Andres v. United States, 333 U.S. 740, 752 (1948).                                    8

Seaford Court Estates Ltd. Vs Asher (1949)2 KB 481 at 498 – 499   12

Bello v A.G. Oyo State (1986)5 NWLR pt 45, p. 828 SC.                             24

Okumagba v Egbe (1965) All NLR 64 SC                                         24

R v Baganza(1960)5 FSC 1.                                                             24

R v Sussex Justices, Ex parte McCarthy (1924) 1kb. 256.                            24

FMG v Ken Sarowiwa & Ors 1995                                                    24

Okumagba v Egbe, op. cit.                                                                 25

Lakanmi & Anor v A. G. Western State (1971) 1 UILR 201 SC.                  25

A.    G. Bendel State v A. G. Federation

& 22 Ors(1982)3 NCLRI SC.                                                            25

Ibraham v State (1986)1 NWLR pt 18, p. 650 SC.                                       25

Ibrahim v JSC (1998) 14 NWLR pt 584, p. ! SC.                               27

Stowell v Lord Zouch (1997) 75 ER 538 at page 560                        29

Krishnaih V. State (A.P. AIR 2005 AP 10)                                        30

Yabugbe v COP(1992)4 NWLR pt 234. Page 152 at 171.                          30

Shell – B. P. v FBIR (1976) All NLR 187                                          31

Houston v Burns (1918)AC 337                                                                  31

CIT vs. Ajax Products Ltd (1964) 55 ITR 741 SC                              32

Mahesh Chandra Sharma V.Raj Kumari Sharma                              33

Agbetoba v LSEC (1991)4 NWLR pt 188, p. 66477).                        33

Oluka v State (1988)1 NWLR pt 72, p. 539 SC.                                 38

National Assistance Board v Wilkinson (1952)2 QB 648.                            38 Afolabi v Governor of Oyo State (1985)2 NWLR pt 9, p. 734 SC            38

 Okoro v State (1988)5 NWLR pt 94, p. 255 SC                                38

FCDA v Sule (1994)3 NWLR pt 332, p. 257 SC.                               39  COP v Okoli (1966) NNLR                                                                   39

R v Princewill (1963) ANLR 478                                           &nbs