Legal System
The law of Nigeria is based on the rule of law and the independence of the Judiciary, and also on the British common law because of the long history of British colonial influence. The legal system is therefore similar to the common law systems used in England and Wales and in other Commonwealth countries. The constitutional framework for the legal system is provided by the Constitution of Nigeria.
There are however, four distinct systems of law in Nigeria:
- English Law, which is derived from its colonial past with Britain;
- Common law, (case law development since colonial independence);
- Customary law, which is derived from indigenous traditional norms and practices;
- Sharia law, used in the northern part of the country.
Like the United States, there is a Judicial branch with a Supreme Court which is regarded as the highest court of the land.
Read more about this topic: Politics Of Nigeria
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