Investor Presentaiton
Preface
Recently, some legal reforms were carried out by many States in Nigeria to improve
access to justice and promote efficient disposal of civil matters. Specifically, the
reforms were aimed at helping parties towards expeditious resolution of their
disputes, improve their confidence in the court system and reduce the cost of
litigation to enhance justice delivery. The efforts culminated in the emergence of
new civil procedure rules in many courts. The Federal High Court and Lagos State
High Court brought forth their new rules in 2019. The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,
brought forth the 2018 rules. With the 2021 rules and numerous Practice Directions
made in 2021, the Court of Appeal was not left out in the legal wind of change.
Needless to say that the changes introduced into the rules of procedure by the
new rules rendered many of the existing textbooks on the subject of civil procedure
obsolete and useless for nearly all practical purposes. This book, apart from capturing
the essence of the recent reforms with its case-law based explanations of new
concepts and procedures, provides a graphic picture of the modern civil procedure
of courts in Nigeria with the aid of carefully drafted legal precedents and formats.
The book is arranged in bits, section by section contrary to the conventional
method of arranging books chapter by chapter. This is to encourage a bit by bit
reading for easier understanding in view of the expansive nature of the subject.
Relevant issues relating to each topic were examined within the parameters of
recent cases decided by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Relevant
statutes, extant rules of courts especially the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure)
Rules, 2019, Lagos State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, High Court of
the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2018, the Court of Appeal
Rules, 2021 and the Supreme Court Rules, 1985 were examined with overflowing
abundance of judicial authorities. It is our hope that lawyers in litigation practice,
judges and other stakeholders in justice delivery will find the book immensely useful.
I am grateful to all who helped in the preparation of this book in one way or another
especially my beautiful wife, Iriagbonse Momodu; my son, Osikhe Momodu; my
daughter, Osise Momodu and Mrs Grace Amao for her secretarial works. All errors
in the book are mine.
Basil Momodu Esq.
March, 2023.
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