CAN NIGERIAN COURTS USE DOCUMENTS NOT WRITTEN IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE. * Daily Law Tips (Tip 511) by Onyekachi Umah, Esq., LLM. ACIArb(UK)

“I must emphasize that a document not written nor translated in to the language of the Court is inadmissible. See the decision of the Supreme Court in OJENGBEDE v. ESAN (2002) FWLR (Pt.90) 1406 SC; and LAWSON V. AFANI CONTINENTAL CO. (NIG) LTD (2002) FWLR (PT.109) 1736.

“… vernacular language is not the language of the Court. The official language of superior Courts of record in Nigeria is English.”

My authorities are the decision of the Court of Appeal, in the respective cases, below:

1. MAKUDAWA v. MALLAM & ORS

(2015) LPELR-25964(CA)

2. BAKO & ORS v. ABUBAKAR (2014) LPELR-23975(CA)

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Onyekachi Umah, Esq., LL.M, ACIArb(UK)

Onyekachi Umah is an exceptional Legal Practitioner, Arbitrator, Notary Public and Legal Awareness Expert with over a decade of experience in civil law, criminal law and human rights. He holds a Master of Laws; a Master of Business Administration (mini) and he is a doctoral candidate. Mr Umah is the Managing Partner of the law firm of Bezaleel Chambers International (BCI), where he consults and provides legal services to several national and international organisations, including the United Nations. Aside from his very engaging legal practice, Mr Umah runs a legal awareness organisation (Sabi Law Foundation) and he diligently publishes free daily law tips, every day on www.LearnNigerianLaws.com since 2017. He has published over 820 legal articles in diverse areas of law, delivered over 35 public lectures, anchored over 67 law radio/tv shows and supported several legal and developmental projects across Africa. Click to read more.

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