NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NGER
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IA
SCHOOL OF LAW
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COURSE CODE:LAW 100
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COURSE TITLE:INTRODUCTION TO LAW
z z z
,LAWz100 INTRODUCTIONzTOzLAW
COURSE
GUIDE
z
LAW 100 INTRODUCTIO
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N TO LAW
z z
Course Developer z G. I. Oyakhiromen Ph.D, BL
z z z z
National Open University of Nigeria
z z z z
Course Adapters z G. I. Oyakhiromen Ph.D, BL
z z z z
National Open University of Nigeria
z z z z
Ayodeji Ige, LLM, M.A. (Ibadan) ACIS Nation
z z z z z z
al Open University of Nigeria
z z z z
Course Editorz
Professor Justus A. Sokefun Natio
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nal Open University of Nigeria
z z z z
Programme Leader z G. I. Oyakhiromen Ph.D, BL
z z z z
National Open University of Nigeria
z z z z
NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
z z z z
ii
,LAWz100 INTRODUCTIONzTOzLAW
National Open University of Nigeria Headquart
z z z z z
ers
14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way Victori
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a Island
z
Lagos
Abuja Office z
No. 5 Dar es Salaam Street
z z z z z z
Off Aminu Kano Crescent
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Wuse II, Abuja z z
Nigeria
e-
mail: U
z z
RL: www.nou.edu.ng
Publishedzby
National Open University of Nigeria Printed
z z z z z
z 2009
ISBN: 978-058-115-4 z
All Rights Reserved
z z
CONTENTS PAGE
iii
, LAWz100 INTRODUCTIONzTOzLAW
The Challenge of Inclusion ………………………………….….
z z z 1 z
Women and the Law ……………………………………………
z z z 3 z
Children and the Courts …………………………………….…..
z z z 4 z
Multiculturalism and the Legal Tradition ……………….….….. z 6 z z z z
Access to Justice: Making Legal Rights Effective ………..….…
z z z 9 z z z z
Bargaining in the Shadow of the Law …………………….….… z z z 10 z z z z
Pathways to Justice ……………………………………….….…. z z 11 z
Obstacles to the Enforcement of Rights ………………..….….…
z z z 12 z z z
Improving Access to Justice ……………………………….….… z 15
z z z
Contingency Fees …………………………………………..…… z 17
z
Legal Aid ……………………………………………….……..…
z z 18
Legal Services for the Disadvantaged .................................................... 21
z z z z
Access to Justice and the Problem of Centripetal Law ........................... 26
z z z z z z z z
Conclusion: The Future of Tradition ………………………..…. zz z 28 z z z
Textbooks and References .................................................................. 30
z z
ThezChallengezofzInclusion
The last quarter of the 20th century has proved to be a period of considerabl
z z z z z z z z z z z z z z
e change in Nigeria law. It has seen Nigeria achieve formal autonomy and l
z z z z z z z z z z z z z
egal independence. This has coincided with the Supreme Court’s active re
z z z z z z z z z z
shaping of Nigeria law in a manner which has led to an increasing gulf bet
z z z z z z z z z z z z z z
ween the law of Federal Republic Nigeria and that of other Commonwealt
z z z z z z z z z z z
h jurisdiction, including England. Adoption by Nigeria of the Republican
z z z z z z z z z z
path, in 1963 makes the severances of links with the British Monarchy and
z z z z z z z z z z z z z
necessitates substantial revisions to the Federal Constitution. All these cha
z z z z z z z z z
nges are deeply significant for the future of Nigeria law. A tradition receiv
z z z z z z z z z z z z
ed from Britain, and modified for Nigeria conditions from the earliest days
z z z z z z z z z z z
of white settlement, has now evolved in such a way that it is possible to sp
z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z
eak of a tradition of law in Nigeria which s distinct from the legal traditions
z z z z z z z z z z z z z z
of other common law countries.
z z z z z
Yet how “Nigeria” is the tradition? It is not Nigeria merely by virtue of the
z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z
fact that the law has been shaped in a distinctive manner by judges
z z z z z z z z z z z z
iv
z z z z
IA
SCHOOL OF LAW
z z
COURSE CODE:LAW 100
z z
COURSE TITLE:INTRODUCTION TO LAW
z z z
,LAWz100 INTRODUCTIONzTOzLAW
COURSE
GUIDE
z
LAW 100 INTRODUCTIO
z z
N TO LAW
z z
Course Developer z G. I. Oyakhiromen Ph.D, BL
z z z z
National Open University of Nigeria
z z z z
Course Adapters z G. I. Oyakhiromen Ph.D, BL
z z z z
National Open University of Nigeria
z z z z
Ayodeji Ige, LLM, M.A. (Ibadan) ACIS Nation
z z z z z z
al Open University of Nigeria
z z z z
Course Editorz
Professor Justus A. Sokefun Natio
z z z z
nal Open University of Nigeria
z z z z
Programme Leader z G. I. Oyakhiromen Ph.D, BL
z z z z
National Open University of Nigeria
z z z z
NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
z z z z
ii
,LAWz100 INTRODUCTIONzTOzLAW
National Open University of Nigeria Headquart
z z z z z
ers
14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way Victori
z z z z
a Island
z
Lagos
Abuja Office z
No. 5 Dar es Salaam Street
z z z z z z
Off Aminu Kano Crescent
z z z z
Wuse II, Abuja z z
Nigeria
e-
mail: U
z z
RL: www.nou.edu.ng
Publishedzby
National Open University of Nigeria Printed
z z z z z
z 2009
ISBN: 978-058-115-4 z
All Rights Reserved
z z
CONTENTS PAGE
iii
, LAWz100 INTRODUCTIONzTOzLAW
The Challenge of Inclusion ………………………………….….
z z z 1 z
Women and the Law ……………………………………………
z z z 3 z
Children and the Courts …………………………………….…..
z z z 4 z
Multiculturalism and the Legal Tradition ……………….….….. z 6 z z z z
Access to Justice: Making Legal Rights Effective ………..….…
z z z 9 z z z z
Bargaining in the Shadow of the Law …………………….….… z z z 10 z z z z
Pathways to Justice ……………………………………….….…. z z 11 z
Obstacles to the Enforcement of Rights ………………..….….…
z z z 12 z z z
Improving Access to Justice ……………………………….….… z 15
z z z
Contingency Fees …………………………………………..…… z 17
z
Legal Aid ……………………………………………….……..…
z z 18
Legal Services for the Disadvantaged .................................................... 21
z z z z
Access to Justice and the Problem of Centripetal Law ........................... 26
z z z z z z z z
Conclusion: The Future of Tradition ………………………..…. zz z 28 z z z
Textbooks and References .................................................................. 30
z z
ThezChallengezofzInclusion
The last quarter of the 20th century has proved to be a period of considerabl
z z z z z z z z z z z z z z
e change in Nigeria law. It has seen Nigeria achieve formal autonomy and l
z z z z z z z z z z z z z
egal independence. This has coincided with the Supreme Court’s active re
z z z z z z z z z z
shaping of Nigeria law in a manner which has led to an increasing gulf bet
z z z z z z z z z z z z z z
ween the law of Federal Republic Nigeria and that of other Commonwealt
z z z z z z z z z z z
h jurisdiction, including England. Adoption by Nigeria of the Republican
z z z z z z z z z z
path, in 1963 makes the severances of links with the British Monarchy and
z z z z z z z z z z z z z
necessitates substantial revisions to the Federal Constitution. All these cha
z z z z z z z z z
nges are deeply significant for the future of Nigeria law. A tradition receiv
z z z z z z z z z z z z
ed from Britain, and modified for Nigeria conditions from the earliest days
z z z z z z z z z z z
of white settlement, has now evolved in such a way that it is possible to sp
z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z
eak of a tradition of law in Nigeria which s distinct from the legal traditions
z z z z z z z z z z z z z z
of other common law countries.
z z z z z
Yet how “Nigeria” is the tradition? It is not Nigeria merely by virtue of the
z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z
fact that the law has been shaped in a distinctive manner by judges
z z z z z z z z z z z z
iv
