Nigerian Legal System
- Social Sciences
- 200 level
- 3 credit units
- 157 pages
- 34 units
This course introduces undergraduate Political Science students to the fundamental principles of the Nigerian Legal System. It explores the evolution, sources, and classification of law within the Nigerian context. Students will examine the legislative process, the role of the judiciary, and the relationship between law and political governance. The course also covers civil and criminal procedures, legal aid, and the importance of upholding the rule of law in a democratic society.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 150 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of POL211, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
POL211 · UNIT 2: LAW AND MORALITY
Morality, no doubt, is a very vital constituent of law. Although the ultimate sanction of law is force. It can control only external acts, but it cannot enjoin or control a spirit/conscience.
What you should be able to do
- Understand the sources and classifications of Nigerian law
- Explain the legislative process and the role of the judiciary
- Analyze the relationship between law and political governance
- Discuss civil and criminal procedures in Nigerian courts
- Evaluate the effectiveness of legal aid in Nigeria
What it prepares you for
- Legal Assistant
- Paralegal
- Policy Analyst
- Court Administrator
- Law Enforcement Officer
- Government
- Law Enforcement
- Judiciary
- Legal Services
- Non-profit
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 4:
Unit 4: Recklessness, Negligence and Mens Rea
Advanced calculus integration techniques require strong mathematical foundation
- Module 5:
Unit 1: An Outline of Civil Procedure in Nigeria
Understanding the nuances of civil procedure requires familiarity with legal terminology and court processes.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 65 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1:
Unit 1: The Concept and Evolution of Law · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Understand the concept and evolution of law, natural law, and its importance in society.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1..
Unit 2: Law and Morality · 2 hours
Read Unit 2: Differentiate between morality and law, and understand the role of custom in the legal system.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1..
- Week 2Module 1:
Unit 3: Types of Law · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Identify and explain the different types of law: eternal, divine, natural, and human law.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
Unit 4: Theories of Law · 2 hours
Read Unit 4: Discuss the natural law, historical, positive, sociological, and realist schools of jurisprudence.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
- Week 3Module 1:
Unit 5: Classification of Law · 5 hours
Read Unit 5: Classify law into private/public, civil/criminal, substantive/procedural, written/unwritten, and municipal/international law.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
- Week 4Module 2:
Unit 1: Meaning of Law · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Understand the meaning of law, its duties, and its features.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
Unit 2: The Nigerian Legal System · 2 hours
Read Unit 2: Study the duality, external influence, and geo-cultural diversity of the Nigerian Legal System.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
- Week 5Module 2:
Unit 3: Sources of Nigerian Law · 5 hours
Read Unit 3: Identify and explain the sources of Nigerian Law: local legislation, constitution, case law, English law, customary law, and international law.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1..
- Week 6Module 3:
Unit 1: Nigerian Legislation · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Understand primary and subsidiary legislation, Nigerian Customary Law, case laws and international law.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
Unit 2: The Reasoning behind Legislation · 2 hours
Read Unit 2: Study the dynamic nature of society, anti-social elements, and paradigm shifts in universal value.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
- Week 7Module 3:
Unit 3: Legislative Process · 5 hours
Read Unit 3: Examine the legislative process under civilian and military regimes.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
- Week 8Module 3:
Unit 4: The Rule of Law and Political Governance · 5 hours
Read Unit 4: Understand the meaning of the rule of law and its relation to political governance.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
- Week 9Module 3:
Unit 5: Tools of Social Control via Law · 5 hours
Read Unit 5: Identify and explain the penal, grievance-remedial, public benefit conferral, constitutive, administrative regulatory, fiscal, and private arranging techniques.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
- Week 10Module 4:
Unit 1: Interpretation of Statues · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Understand canons of interpretation, why statutes generate arguments, and interpretation of the Constitution.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
Unit 2: Justice and Rights · 2 hours
Read Unit 2: Study Plato's, Aristotle's, Aquinas', and Hume's views on justice and rights.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
- Week 11Module 4:
Unit 3: Grounds for Criminal Liability And Punishment · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Understand grounds for criminal liability and punishment.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
Unit 4: Recklessness, Negligence and Mens Rea · 2 hours
Read Unit 4: Differentiate between recklessness, negligence and Mens Rea.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
- Week 12Module 4:
Unit 5: The Legal Profession in Nigeria · 5 hours
Read Unit 5: Development of Legal Practice in Nigeria, those who can practice law in Nigeria, Duties of a Legal Practitioner. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise..
- Week 13Final Revision
Final Revision · 5 hours
Review all modules and units.. Work on assignments and prepare for final examination..
Preparing for the exam
- Create concept maps linking Module 1-2 legal concepts
- Practice legal definitions from Units 3-5 weekly
- Review case studies from Modules 5-7
- Focus on key concepts
- Review all TMAs
Questions students ask about this course
What is POL211 about?
This course introduces undergraduate Political Science students to the fundamental principles of the Nigerian Legal System. It explores the evolution, sources, and classification of law within the Nigerian context. Students will examine the legislative process, the role of the judiciary, and the relationship between law and political governance. The course also covers civil and criminal procedures, legal aid, and the importance of upholding the rule of law in a democratic society.
How many units does POL211 have?
POL211, Nigerian Legal System, has 34 units across 8 modules, over 157 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is POL211?
POL211 carries 3 credit units, at 200 level in Social Sciences.
Is POL211 hard?
POL211 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does POL211 take to study?
About 150 hours of study, spread across its 34 units.
How is POL211 assessed?
POL211 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with POL211?
Legal Assistant, Paralegal, Policy Analyst, Court Administrator and Law Enforcement Officer.