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JIL211Law4 Unitsintermediate

Nigerian Legal System I

This course introduces students to the Nigerian Legal System, providing a foundation of legal knowledge relevant to Nigeria's plural society. It explores the historical development of Nigerian law, including its English law origins and the impact of colonialism. Key areas covered include statutory interpretation, doctrines of equity, sources of law, and the influence of military rule. The course aims to equip students with the ability to analyze legal issues, understand the functions of law, and appreciate the complexities of the Nigerian legal landscape.

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208h
Study Time
13
Weeks
16h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
Nigerian Legal SystemSources of LawStatutory InterpretationDoctrines of EquityMilitary Rule

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Nigerian Legal System

2

Sources of Law

3

Statutory Interpretation

4

Doctrines of Equity

5

Military Rule

6

Common Law

Total Topics6 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Legal Practitioner

Apply your skills in this growing field

Paralegal

Apply your skills in this growing field

Legal Advisor

Apply your skills in this growing field

Compliance Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Law Enforcement

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

LawGovernmentBusinessNon-profitInternational Organizations

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1:

3h

Unit 1: Idea of Law

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Idea of Law, focusing on the definitions of law and the components of a legal system.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1 to reinforce understanding of legal system components.
  • •Reflect on the discrepancies in defining law across different countries.
Week
2

Module 1:

3h

Unit 2: Positivist School of Thought

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 2: Positivist School of Thought, paying attention to the key tenets of positivism and its criticisms.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1, stating the criteria for a valid law from a positivist perspective.
  • •Compare and contrast positivist views with your own understanding of law.
Week
3

Module 1:

3h

Unit 3: Other Schools of Thought

3 study hours
  • •Examine Unit 3: Other Schools of Thought, focusing on traditionalist and environmentalist perspectives.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercises 1 and 2, comparing customary law and natural law.
  • •Reflect on the influence of political, social, and economic orders on the idea of law.
Week
4

Module 1:

6h

Unit 4: Nigeria Legal System under the Military Rule

3 study hours
  • •Study Unit 4: Nigeria Legal System under the Military Rule, focusing on the duties and powers of the armed forces.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1, listing the duties of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
  • •Consider the implications of military rule on the administration of justice.

Unit 5: Nigeria Legal System under the Military Rule cont'd

3 study hours
  • •Continue with Unit 5: Nigeria Legal System under the Military Rule cont'd, focusing on the legislative, executive, and judicial authorities.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1, defining 'Military Government'.
  • •Analyze the legal basis of military intrusion and its impact on the legal system.
Week
5

Module 2:

4h

Unit 1: The Nigerian Legal System under the Military Government cont'd

4 study hours
  • •Study Unit 1: Nigeria Legal System under the Military Rule cont'd, focusing on legitimatization of military power and ouster clauses.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1, accounting for changes in the court system by the military government.
  • •Analyze the operation of the Nigerian Legal System during the war years.
Week
6

Module 2:

4h

Unit 2: Functions of Law in the Society

4 study hours
  • •Study Unit 2: Functions of Law in the Society, focusing on the protection of interests and social welfare.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1, describing a state without law.
  • •Evaluate the purpose and functions of law in society.
Week
7

Module 2:

4h

Unit 3: Classification of Law

4 study hours
  • •Study Unit 3: Classification of Law, focusing on imperative, physical, natural, conventional, customary, and technical law.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1, listing the features of imperative and customary laws.
  • •Trace the source of law and distinguish legal rules from non-legal sources.
Week
8

Module 2:

4h

Unit 4: Classification of Law cont'd

4 study hours
  • •Study Unit 4: Classification of Law cont'd, focusing on public and private international law, positive and municipal law, and public and private law.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1, comparing public and private law.
  • •Compare and contrast each class of law with the law in pre-modern and modern Nigeria.
Week
9

Module 2:

4h

Unit 5: Laws and Morals

4 study hours
  • •Study Unit 5: Laws and Morals, focusing on the definition of terms and the relativity of morality.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1, describing the morality of theft in different situations.
  • •Follow the trends and be able to decide whether law should correspond with morals.
Week
10

Module 3:

4h

Unit 1: Laws and Morals cont'd

4 study hours
  • •Study Unit 1: Laws and Morals cont'd, focusing on natural law and analytical positivism.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1, listing Lon Fuller's criteria for law.
  • •Determine whether or not and to what extent the law should be used to enforce private morality.
Week
11

Module 3:

4h

Unit 2: Sources of Law

4 study hours
  • •Study Unit 2: Sources of Law, focusing on the meaning of 'source' and the classes of sources of law.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1, accounting for the autochthony of the Nigerian constitution.
  • •Understand the meaning of terms used, the classes, and the theories of sources as well as the autochthony of law.
Week
12

Module 3:

8h

Unit 3: Meaning of Statute

4 study hours
  • •Study Unit 3: Sources of Law Statutes, focusing on the meaning of statute and the creation of statute.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1, differentiating between statute, decree, edict, and subsidiary legislation.
  • •Be acquainted with statutes as a source of law and the different statutes that have formed our law since colonial times.

Unit 4: Statutes of General Application

4 study hours
  • •Study Unit 4: Statutes of General Application, focusing on the literal rule of interpretation and generality as to geographical coverage.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1, accounting for statutes of general application in terms of territorial coverage.
  • •Identify the different foreign statutes that form part of Nigerian law.
Week
13

Module 3:

4h

Unit 5: Received Law

4 study hours
  • •Study Unit 5: Received English Law: Common Law, focusing on the content of reception enactments and the nature of judicial precedent.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1, explaining the term 'Received English Law'.
  • •Trace the history of Common Law and its reception into the Nigerian Legal System.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create detailed outlines for each module, focusing on key definitions and concepts.

2

Practice applying the different rules of statutory interpretation to hypothetical scenarios.

3

Review landmark cases and their impact on the Nigerian Legal System.

4

Focus on understanding the historical context of legal developments.

5

Prepare concise summaries of each unit, highlighting key points and legal principles.

6

Use flashcards to memorize important legal terms and definitions.

7

Allocate specific study time for each module based on its complexity and length.

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