The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court in Nigeria, and is located in the Central District, Abuja, in what is known as the Three Arms Zone, so called due to the close proximity of the offices of the Presidential Complex, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court. A court is an official, public forum which a sovereign establishes by lawful authority to adjudicate disputes, and to dispense civil, labour, administrative and criminal justice under the law. ... Location of Abuja in Nigeria Abuja, estimated population 1,078,700, is the capital city of Nigeria. ... [1]Politics of Nigeria}} The National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a bicameral legislature established under section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution and comprises a 109-member Senate and a 360-member House of Representatives. ...

Overview

In 1963, the Federal Republic of Nigeria was proclaimed and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe became its first President. Appeals from the Federal Supreme Court to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council were abolished at that point, and the Supreme Court became the highest court in Nigeria. In 1976, the Court of Appeal (originally known as the Federal Court of Appeal) was established as a national court to entertain appeals from the High Courts of each of Nigeria's 36 states, which are the trial courts of general jurisdiction. The Supreme Court in its current form was shaped by the Supreme Court Act of 1990 and by Chapter VII of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... Nnamdi Azikiwe Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikwe, or, informally, as Zik, (November 16, 1904-May 11, 1996) was Nigerias first President. ... The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1976 calendar). ... Nigeria is currently divided into 36 states and 1 territory. ... This article is about the year. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

Under the 1999 constitution, the Supreme Court has both original and appellate jurisdictions, has the sole authority and jurisdiction to entertain appeals from Court of Appeal, having appellate jurisdiction over all lower federal courts and highest state courts. Decisions rendered by the court are binding on all courts in Nigeria except the Supreme Court itself. In law, jurisdiction from the Latin jus, juris meaning law and dicere meaning to speak, is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted body or to a person to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility. ...

Structure and Organization

The Supreme Court is composed of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and twenty-one justices, appointed by the President of Nigeria on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to confirmation by the Senate. Justices of the Supreme Court must be qualified to practice law in Nigeria, and have been so qualified for a period not less than fifteen years. The President of Nigeria is both head of government and head of state of Nigeria. ... The Senate is the upper house of the National Assembly of Nigeria. ...

Justices of the Supreme Court are seated in panels of either five or seven depending on the question submitted for their consideration. Typically, fifteen of the court's twenty-one justices are divided into three panels of five justices each, with panels rotated through a week of sitting followed by a two-week recess. Each panel will normally hear civil matters and proceedings on Mondays and Tuesdays, criminal matters on Thursdays, and will deliver its judgments on Fridays. The Chief Justice of Nigeria is not a regular member of these panels, but may take the place of any justice who must be absent from their panel due to health or other unavoidable concerns.

External links

• Supreme Court of Nigeria
• Section of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria on the Judicature