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Difficulty: EasyThe Judiciary: Functions, Hierarchy of Courts, and Judicial Review

Arrange the following courts in the Nigerian judicial system in descending order of hierarchy (from the highest court of authority to the lowest court):

  1. 1Supreme Court of Nigeria
  2. 2Court of Appeal
  3. 3High Court (Federal or State)
  4. 4Magistrate Court

Answer

The correct order from highest to lowest judicial authority is: Supreme Court of Nigeria, Court of Appeal, High Court (Federal or State), and Magistrate Court.
The correct sequence mirrors the constitutional hierarchy of Nigerian courts from apex authority to lower courts: Supreme Court of Nigeria (apex), Court of Appeal (penultimate), High Court (trial level), and Magistrate Court (subordinate level).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the apex court in Nigeria.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court in the land.
Under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, decisions of the Supreme Court are final and binding on all other courts.
2
Identify the intermediate court of appeal.
The Court of Appeal comes directly below the Supreme Court.
It acts as the primary appellate tribunal for decisions coming from the High Courts and specialized tribunals.
3
Identify the superior court of original jurisdiction.
High Courts rank directly below the Court of Appeal.
High Courts possess trial jurisdiction over major civil and serious criminal cases.
4
Identify the lower court of summary jurisdiction.
Magistrate Courts rank at the lower tier of the formal judicial structure.
Magistrate Courts handle minor criminal cases and small civil claims, and their decisions can be appealed to the High Court.

Key Concept

Hierarchy of Courts in the Nigerian Judicial System
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

The Judiciary: Functions, Hierarchy of Courts, and Judicial Review

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