Customary Law

Question 1

What is customary law?

Answer 1

This refers to laws that come from the customs, traditions, and practices of the indigenous communities in Nigeria, which they used to govern and guide themselves before the interference by the white people.

Question 2

What are the characteristics of customary law?

Answer 2

1. Acceptance and existence (see Owoniyin v. Omotosho, and Lewis v. Bankole.
2. It is organic (See the case of Ibrahim v. Barde and Dawodu v. Danmole)
3. Flexibility: See Lewis v. Bankole, what Osborn CJ said. Oshodi v. Balogun.
4. Unwritten
5. No uniformity.