CHAPTER ONE
MEANING AND SCOPE OF CUSTOMARY LAW
Before looking at the meaning of Customary Law. Let’s know what custom means. In the case of OKONKWO V LUCKY OKAGBUE ORS 1 the court defines “Custom” as follows,
“A particular way of
behavior which because it has long been established among
members of a social group or tribe, can develop and acquire
the force of law, it be approved by consent of those who
follows it”.
From the above dictum of the
presiding Judge, it can be seen that custom has been in
existence from time immemorial, here it means “a long time
ago”. A custom is also a tradition, a way of behavior of
the people. Human conduct is governed daily by certain custom
which the people recognized and accepted by themselves.
A custom is not necessary
customary law until requirement are made. For a custom to
become a customary law, it must have the force of law. In
other words, it must bind on the people which it is applied.
It must have a force of law. It should be noted and I
believe that all customary law advocate will agree with me
also that the existence and long life of custom is the
strength of acceptance by the local populace,as was in the case
of Eshugbayi Eleko v. Govt Of Nigeria2 furthermore, customs also refers
_____________________________________________________________________________________
- (1994) 9 NWLR pt 368 30 1, at pg 345, shabu Aku v us man amaka (1991) 8 NWLR (pt 209) 280
at pp. 292, 294.
- (1931) Ac 662 At 673.
The practice or usage “Which
by common adoption and unvarying habit has become compulsory
and has acquired the force of law with respect to the place
or subject matter which it relates” 3 .
Now that we have already known
what custom is, I will like us to go further by explaining
what customary law is.
The supreme court in the case of Kharie Zaidan Fatima Khalil Mohssen4 Define customary law as follows:-
“It is a system of law not
being the common law (England), and not being a law enacted
by a competent legislature and binding within Nigeria as
between the parties subject to it sway”.
According to Obaseki J.S.C5a customary
law is the organic or living law of the indigenous people
of Nigeria regulating their lives and transaction. It is
organic in that it is not static. It is regulatory in that
it controls the lives and transaction of the community subject
to it. Custom is a mirror of the culture of the people
and it imports justice to the lives of all those subject to
it that is why it is referred to as “A mirror of accepted usage”.
Section 2 of the customary court of appeal law of the old Plateau State 5b defines
customary law as the rules of conduct which governs legal
relationship as established by custom and usage. In
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- Blacks Law Dictionary 5th Edu, p. 3 47, Yinka folawiy & son ltd Y.A Hammond project ltd 4
FRCR (1978) 26.
- 1973 1 All NLR 86 at lot.
- Bilewu Oyewumi v. Amos Awaoda Ogusesan (1990) N W L R.
- Laws of the old Plateau State Appeal Court.
lewis v. Bankole (1908) I NLR 81 at 1006 customary
law has been stated to be the unwritten customary law
recognized as law by the members of an ethnic group. If
these definitions are anything to go by, Muslim law cannot be
customary law. It is a fact that Muslim law is written in
the Holy Koran. It is only by virtue of some specific
provision in a law such as section 2 of the high court law cap.49, law Northern Nigeria 19637which
provides that native law and custom include Muslim law that
Muslim law is regarded as a native law and custom.