Normative Ethics in the Nigerian Law

The inspiration for this book has been accumulated over the years. This is partly due to the fact that I have been involved in the course of researching and teaching the course ‘Jurisprudence’ as a pioneer lecturer in the prestigious Oba Erediawa College of Law, Igbinedion University Okada. Incidental to this responsibility is the ever-growing task of grooming of students as well as supervising their long essays whenever the choice of topic appertains to the subject ‘jurisprudence and legal theory.’

The task of practical teaching has been done a times alone, and in some other cases by joint effort. Consequent on the above, it dawned on me the peculiar need to venture into the regime of ‘Succession and Inheritance causes and matters in Nigeria.’ I have the privilege to assume this task in order to contribute to the growing jurisprudence of intimate relationships in Nigeria and the incidental acrimony and controversy generated in the process of distributing both ‘testate and intestate estates’ as well as overcoming the dire challenges associated with redirecting the minds of ‘customary administrators’ and the ‘general public’ through this book of the need to redress the quality and quantity of estate shares oftentimes accruing to females as beneficiaries, more particularly, under the challenging effect of rules of customary law in Nigeria.

Normative Ethics in the Nigerian Law With respect to adjudication of matters appertaining to succession and inheritance, I am equally convinced that judges have a great role to play in redressing the cultural imbalance inherent in the legal system in Nigeria. This judicial role can be achieved through the process of ‘judicialization’ of rules of customary law. Therefore, normative ethics in Nigerian legal system contemplates formulating general ethical principles capable of rational justification and utilization in the process of deciding issues of rights and wrongs as well as lawful and unlawful succession and inheritance causes and matters in the Nigerian law. This can not be achieved in isolation, but must co-opt heuristic changes in socio-political and economic spheres in the society, regard been had to the fact that Nigeria is a multicultural and secular society. It is hoped that this book will be useful not only to the student of Nigerian law and law Lecturers but also to the legal practitioner as well as the general public, especially within the Pacific and African regions.

Consequently, this book serves the reading interest of Africans in Diaspora particularly by acquainting them with state of the law in Nigeria and other related African societies. Generally, the law is stated as at January 30th, 20200. Therefore, changes after this date may not be mentioned.

Dr. A K ANYA
College of Law, Igbinedion University Okada,
Nigeria 30 Jan 2020