While the Legislature is responsible for making laws and the Executive is charged with the imple- mentation of such law, the Judiciary is responsible for the interpretation of the law in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. In line with the doctrine of separation of powers, which is a cardinal feature of a democratic system, the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the independence of the Judiciary.
The Constrtution provides for Federal and State Courts, as well as Election Tribunals. At the apex of the Judiciary is the Supreme Court.
The other Federal Courts are:
* The Court of Appeal
* The Federal High Court
* The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
* The Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capita! Territory, Abuja.
* The Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory.
» The State Courts are:
* The High Court
* The Sharia Court of Appeal
* The Customary Court of Appeal
The Election Tribunals are:
The National Assembly Election Tribunals
The Govenorship and Legislative Houses Election Tribunals
In addition to the Courts and Tribunals established by the Constitution, there are other court and tribunals created by Federal or State laws. These include:
Magistrate Courts, Area Courts, Sharia Courts and Customary Courts.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, the President of the Court of
Appeal, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the
Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federa! Territory, Abuja
are all appointed by the President on the advice of the
National Judicial Council subject to the consent of the
Senate.
The President also appoints the Grand Kadi of the Sharia
Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and
the President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in the same manner as
friose of the other Federal Courts. All other judicial
appointments to the Federal Courts are made by the
President on the advice of the National Judicial Council.
The Governors appoint the Chief Judges of the States, the
Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal and the President
of the Customary Court of Appeal, in those States where
those courts exist, on the advice of the National Judicial Council and the State House of Assembly. All other judicial appoint- ments to State Courts are made by the Governor of the State on the advice of the National Judicial Council.
Educational Background:Elementary School, Kutigi, 1946-51; Niger Middle School, Bida, 1952-53; Niger Provincial Secondary School, Bida, 1954-59; Government College (now Barewa College) Zaria, 1960-61; Institute of Administration. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1962-63; School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1963-65; Gibson and Weldon College of Law, 1964-65; Nigerian Law School, Lagos, 1965-66; United
