TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page       

Declaration      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           ii

Certification    -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           iii

Dedication      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           iv

Acknowledgement      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           v

Table of Contents       -           -           -           -           -           -           -           vi

Table of Cases             -           -           -           -           -           -           -           x

Table of Statutes         -           -           -           -           -           -           -           xi

Table of Abbreviations           -           -           -           -           -           -           xii

Abstract          -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           xiv

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study.      -           -           -           -           -           1

1.2       Statement of the Problem       -           -           -           -           -           2

1.3       Objective of the Study           -           -           -           -           -           2

1.4       Significance of the Study       -           -           -           -           -           3

1.5       Research Questions     -           -           -           -           -           -           3

1.6       Scope of the Study     -           -           -           -           -           -           3

1.7       Methodology  -           -           -           -           -           -           -           4

1.8       Organization of the Study      -           -           -           -           -           5

1.9       Literature Review       -           -           -           -           -           -           6

CHAPTER TWO: CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS OF IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS IN NIGERIA

2.1       Definition of Impeachment    -           -           -           -           -           9

2.2       Historical Background of Impeachment         -           -           -           11

2.3       Impeachment under PRE-1999 Constitution -           -           -           14

2.3.1    The 1963 Constitution            -           -           -           -           -           14

2.3.2    Impeachment under 1979 Constitution: An Overview of the           

Impeachment of Alhaji Balarabe Musa          -           -           -           16

2.3.3    Impeachment under the 1989 Constitution    -           -           -           19

CHAPTER THREE:  LEGISLATURE AND IMPEACHMENT

3.1       Composition of the National Assembly          -           -           -           22

3.2       Legislative Powers under the 1999 Constitution        -           -           24

3.3       Roles of the Legislature in a Democratic Society       -           -           28

3.4       Impeachment Proceedings in the Legislative Houses             -           41

3.5       Impeachment Proceeding for the Removal of the President and      

            Vice President -           -           -           -           -           -           -           45

3.6       Impeachment of Governors and Deputy Governors  -           -           50

CHAPTER FOUR:              PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE OF IMPEACHMENT                            IN NIGERIA

4.1       Impeachment Proceedings under the 1999 Constitution        -           51

4.2       Practical Experience of Impeachment in Nigeria        -           -           57

4.2.1    An Overview of the Impeachment of Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha 57    

4.2.2    An Overview of the Impeachment of Governor Ladoja        -           60

4.3       The Impeachment of Deputy Governors        -           -           -           63

4.3.1    An Overview of the Impeachment of Abiodun Aluko          -           63

4.3.2    An Overview of the Impeachment of Sen. Bucknor Akerele           65

4.3.3    An Appraisal of the Impeachment of Obong Chris Ekpenyong        66

CHAPTER FIVE:    SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND                                                           RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1       Summary         -           -           -           -           -           -           -           71

5.2       Conclusion      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           73

5.3       Recommendations      -           -           -           -           -           -           76

            Bibliography  

TABLE OF CASES

AG of Abia State v Att. Gen of Federation & Others (1982) 3NCLR 27

Bako Bahar v.Yauri N. A. Police (1970) NNLR107  -           -           -           68

Balarabe Musa v. The Speaker of Kaduna State of

Assembly & Ors (1981)1NCLR, 419              -           -           -           -           12

Chief Akintola v. Sir Adesoji Aderemi (1962) WNLR 185     -           -           15

Inakoju v. Adeleke (2007) All FWLR (Pt.353)           -           -           -           6,43

Ladoja v. INEC (2007) All FWLR (Pt.377) 934 SC  -           -           -           44

TABLE OF STATUTES

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999   -       1,7,10,22,50,

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979           -           16, 17, 41

The Republican constitution of federal the Republic of

Nigeria 1963   -           -           -           -           -           -           -           14, 41

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1989    -           19, 41

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AC                                    Appeal Cases

AG                                    Attorney General

AGF                                  Attorney General of Federation

Anor:                                 Another

Ch:                                    Chancery Division

Cap:                                   Chapter

ed.:                                    Edition

All FWLR:                        All Federal Weekly Law Report

All NLR:                           All Nigerian Law Report

FSC:                                  Federal Supreme Court

NCLR:                              Nigerian Constitutional Law Report

NWLR:                             Nigerian Weekly Law Report

 P:                                      Page

No:                                    Numbers

S.:                                      Section

S.C:                                   Supreme Court

Pt:                                      Part

Ors:                                   Others

WLR:                                Weekly Law Report

ABSTRACT

The legislature is an institution which represents the common and collective interests of the citizens through the enactment of laws and exercise of oversight functions on the activities of the executive arm of government. The legislature in a democracy exists as an independent institution which deepens democracy and ultimately strengthens the polity. In a democratic setup like Nigeria, the exercise of effective legislative function remains crucial. Its purpose is to provide a powerful check on the executive authority, enhancing accountability where a dominant executive branch might operate impunity. it also aims at ensuring that all relevant societal  groups are included in and benefit from the nation development exercise and that governmental policies and budgets are implemented in an effective, efficient, transparent, and accountable manner. The 1999 constitution of Nigeria is legally supreme and binding. It is the grundnorm from which all organs of government derive their power and authorities. Section 4(1) of the constitution sets out the power and functions of the legislature. Also the 1999 constitution of Nigeria generally vests the legislature with the power to make laws, although these responsibilities is not limited to making law simpliciter as a lot of additional responsibility including that of oversight which will be revealed in the course of this research has been placed upon the legislature. Recommendation is made to the oversight functions of the legislature. Since the oversight functions are vested on the legislature as a fundamental principle of separation of powers and in account of the legislature being an institution of the people representatives. As supreme bodies, they are assumed to possess all the powers necessary to meet there needs and so should be urged to ensure oversight of government in accordance with their constitutional mandate. This work is based on primary and secondary sourced materials. This project is divided in to five chapters. Chapter One talks about the General Introduction, it consists of Background of the Study, Research Questions, Significance of the Study, Scope of the Study, Methodology and Literature Review. Chapter Two gives the conceptual analysis of impeachment proceedings in Nigeria. Chapter Three looks at legislature and impeachment. Chapter Four discusses about impeachment exercise in Nigeria and Chapter Five is on Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations.

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