Supreme Court (Additional Jurisdiction) Act

SUPREME COURT (ADDITIONAL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION) ACT

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

An Act to confer additional original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; and for connected purposes.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

1. Additional original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

2. Schedule.

3. Amendment or section 20 Cap. 424 L.F.N.

4. Interpretation.

5. Citation.

SCHEDULE

SUPREME COURT (ADDITIONAL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION) ACT

An Act to confer additional original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; and for connected purposes.

[22nd April, 2002] [Commencement.]

1. Additional original jurisdiction for the Supreme Court

(1) In addition to the jurisdiction conferred upon the Supreme Court of Nigeria by section 323 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, the Supreme Court shall, to the exclusion of any other court, have original jurisdiction in any dispute between-

(a) the National Assembly and the President;

(b) the National Assembly and any State House of Assembly; and

(c) the National Assembly and any State of the Federation,

in so far as that dispute involves any question (whether of law or fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends.

(2) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as conferring original jurisdiction upon the Supreme Court with respect to any criminal matter.

2. Schedule

The provisions of the Schedule to this Act applies with respect to matters provided therein.

3. Amendment of section 20 Cap. 424 L.F.N.

Section 20 of the Supreme Court Act is amended to the extend that in any such suit by or against-

(a) the National Assembly; or

(b) a State House of Assembly,

the nominal party in the case of-

(i) National Assembly is the National Assembly;

(ii) a State House of Assembly is the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, as stated in this Act.