Legal Consults & Updates

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24/09/2026

Can a verbal agreement be enforced in court?

EPISODE 5: “THE LAWYER ASKED ONE QUESTION”Daniel's lawyer arrived.After listening to the police, the lawyer asked:“Offic...
24/09/2026

EPISODE 5: “THE LAWYER ASKED ONE QUESTION”

Daniel's lawyer arrived.

After listening to the police, the lawyer asked:

“Officer, what evidence shows that Daniel caused the man's death?”

There was absolute Silence.

The officer replied:

“Because he performed CPR on the man and the man died.”

The lawyer shook his head.

“Those two events happening one after another doesn't automatically prove that the first caused the second.”

He pointed to the CCTV footage.

Daniel did not attack this man. He only responded to an apparent medical emergency.

He called for medical assistance. He attempted resuscitation.”

Then he looked at Daniel.

But remember something important: whenever you intervene in an emergency, your actions may still be examined. The circumstances, your conduct, your level of training, and the actual cause of death can all matter.”

Daniel nodded.

The case was far from over.

Because in law, A good intention may explain your conduct, but evidence must establish what actually happened.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Next: Can Nigerian law protect a Good Samaritan who genuinely tries to save a stranger?

24/09/2026

Attempted to escape after sentence

23/09/2026

Wetin remain 🤔🤔🤔

CAN A JUDGE DECIDE A CASE BASED ON WHAT HE PERSONALLY KNOWS ABOUT THE CASE?Imagine that Two (2) people are fighting over...
23/09/2026

CAN A JUDGE DECIDE A CASE BASED ON WHAT HE PERSONALLY KNOWS ABOUT THE CASE?

Imagine that Two (2) people are fighting over a piece of land.

During the trial, the judge says:

“I know this land. I know the history of this property. I know who owns it.”

He's not allowed to do that.

A judge is expected to determine a case from the evidence properly placed before the court, not from undisclosed personal knowledge of disputed facts.

A judge is not a witness. If a judge relies on private or personal knowledge of facts not in evidence, the parties have no opportunity to either: Cross-examine the source of that "fact", or Object to its admissibility, or present rebuttal evidence.

That would violate due process, a party's right to be heard and to meet the evidence against them.

The Court in HON. MINISTER, FCT V. HASSAN & ORS (2020); Adeleke v. Iyanda (2001) 13 NWLR (Pt. 729) 1. held that a trial judge must not impair the evidence with his personal knowledge of matters not placed and canvassed before him. The decision must be based on what is in issue, what the parties have established by evidence, and the applicable law.

However, the law permits a court, in appropriate circumstances, to take judicial notice of certain facts.

Also, Section 124 of the Evidence Act 2011 deals with information obtained by the court from other sources, subject to safeguards including giving the parties an opportunity to be heard where required.

You have been informed. Follow Legal Consults & Updates for more legal tips and updates

23/09/2026

Patronize us

23/09/2026

Can a judge decide a case between parties based on something he personally knows?

23/09/2026

Who's liable here?

22/09/2026

Fake handshake prank 😂😂

YOU CANNOT BE PUNISHED FOR AN OFFENCE NOT KNOWN TO THE LAW!Imagine this;A man gets into an argument with his neighbour. ...
22/09/2026

YOU CANNOT BE PUNISHED FOR AN OFFENCE NOT KNOWN TO THE LAW!

Imagine this;

A man gets into an argument with his neighbour.

During the argument, he insulted the neighbour.

The neighbour got angry and reported him to the police:

“Arrest him! He has insulted me!”

The police arrest the man and tell him:

“You will be prosecuted for insulting your neighbour.”

But then comes the important question:

Where is the written law that defines the particular conduct as a criminal offence and prescribes it's penalty?

Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution provides that:

“No person shall be held to be guilty of a criminal offence unless that offence is defined and the penalty therefor is prescribed in a written law.”

In simple terms:

You cannot be convicted of a crime merely because someone considers your conduct wrong, offensive, immoral or unacceptable.

There must be a written law creating the offence and prescribing the punishment.

The police cannot create offences.

A complainant cannot create offences.

And a court cannot simply invent a criminal offence where the law has not created one.

The law must first say:

“THIS CONDUCT IS A CRIME.”

And the law must also prescribe the punishment.

You have been informed. Follow Legal Consults & Updates for more legal tips and updates

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