TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        i

Declaration -        -        -        --       -        -        -        -        -        ii

Certification                   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        iii

Dedication  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        iv

Acknowledgement         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        v

Table of Contents -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        vii

Table of Cases      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        x

Table of Statutes  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        xii

List of Abbreviations     -        -        -        -        -        -        -        xiii

Abstract      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        xiv

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     Introduction         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        1

1.1            Background of the 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            Definition of Terms       -        -        -        -        -        -        7

CHAPTER TWO

  2.0     Literature Review and Scope of Customary Law -        -        8

2.1     Literature Review -        -        -        -        -        -        -        8

2.2     Attributes of Customary Law -        -        -        -        -        16

2.4     The Necessity of Customary Law as a Source of Nigerian

Law            -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        20

CHAPTER THREE

3.0     The Development of Customary Law in Nigeria  -        -        23

3.1     Proof of Customary Law in Nigerian Courts       -        -        -        23

3.2     Judicial notice of Customary Laws   -        -        -        -        29

3.3    

  The Prerequisite for the Application of Customary Law         -        34

 

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0     Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation      -        -        -        54

4.1     Summary    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        54

4.2     Conclusion -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        57

4.3     Recommendations         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        59

Bibliography        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        61

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CASES

Oyewumi v. Ogun Sesan (2002) 5 NWLR 404

Aku v Aneki (1991) LPELR – SC 104/1889

Orisua v. Aiyebelahin (2004) Sc 11/2000

Kindey & Ors V Military Governor State (2001) 11 NWLR pt. 723, 186

Owoniyi v Omolosho (1897) NWLR pt 513

Lewis v Bankole (1947 12 WACA 127

Ogenwunmi v. Ogunseson (1996) NWLR P. 137

Nsemfo v. Ababio (1747) 12 WACA 127

Fijabi v Odumola (1747) 12 WACA 127

Ehigic V Ehigic (1965) 17 WACA 213

Ababio v Nsemfoo (1961) All NLR 842

Usman v Kareem (1994) 8 NWLR pt 373

Ogiugo v Oguigo (1982) All NLR pt. 312, p. 213

Osnogu v Attch (1977) 12 NWLR pt. 303, p. 24

Nzewu v Nzekwu and Ors (1999) 19 WACA 214

Eshugbaye Eleko v Government of Nigeria (1734) NWLR p. 312

Okonkwo v. Okagbue & Ors (1942) NWLR pt. 412

Mariyama v. Ejikeme (2979) 3 NWLR t. 415

Edet V. Essien (1996) All NLR p. 23

Yusufu v Oklua (1767) NWLR p. 216

Eugene Meribe v. Joshua Egwu (1756) LL NWLR P. 332

Alajemba Uke & Anor v Albert (1992) 5 NWLR p. 414

Gregory Obi Ude v. Clement Nwara (1949) All NLR p. 34.

 

 

TABLE OF STATUTES

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, CAP (24, LFN, 2004)

Evidence Act Cap E14 LFN 2011

 

 

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AC                                 -        Appeal Cases

All FWLR                      -        All Federal Weekly Law Report

All NLR                         -        Federal Supreme Court

NCLR                            -        Nigerian Constitutional Law Report

NWLR                           -        Nigerian Weekly Law Report

SC                                  -        Supreme Court

Ors                                 -        Others

Anor                              -        Another

  ABSTRACT

Customary law is an important source of Nigerian law. Its influence on the Nigeria Legal System is enormous. It is indigenous and reflects the customs and culture of the people. But it is not uniform and harmonious. It is fluid and diversified. Besides, it is not necessary in full conformity with the fast pace of Western civilization being forced on the entire mankind by globalization. It is inundated with multiplicity of customs complicated by superstitions. Hence it is difficult to take judicial notice of it without conditionality. Although the issue of subjecting these customary laws to the validity test if they must be relied on as a source of law in Nigeria, emanates from the biased view of our colonial masters of the Nigerian customs as barbaric, sewage and superstitious, it is still worthy to note that the nature of customary law demands that it be so tested so as do remove some of the superstitious elements and harsh nature. The question has been: why subject our customary laws to a test of validity? Could it be to remove superstitious and harsh elements inherent in them? Or could it be that they lack exactness because of non-codification? Why do courts have difficulty of taking judicial notice of them? This is the crux of this work: the validity of customary law as a source of Nigerian law.

  VALIDITY OF CUSTOMARY LAW IN NIGERIA

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1            Background of the Study

Before the introduction of English Laws in Nigeria, there were already made laws which governed the relationship, agreement and interactions between the people. This law emerged from the existing customs binding the people in agreement. These laws regulated the affairs of local life. These laws are called customary laws.

Customary law, or native law and custom and its enforcement system was the only legal system that existed among the indigenous peoples and communities, long ago, before the colonialists, and other religions and systems of law came and took root in the area known today as Nigeria and elsewhere in Black Africa.

In the communal legal system, which obtained before the advent of modern legal system, customary law was the law and it enjoyed respect. The communal courts cited on the basis of customary law and their sanctions which were backed by coercion all derived from custom. However, today customs, do not enjoy the privilege of automatic enforcement in the modern courts systems as was the case in the days when communal and village courts held sway, applying customary law backed with the necessary coercive machinery of the community. Today, for customs to be applied as a customary law in our modern and integrated court system, the custom must satisfy or pass the validity tests, which is a prerequisite for its application.

1.2     Statement of the Problem

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