PLATEAU STATE HIGH COURT (CIVIL PROCEDURE) RULES, 2008

(ORDERS)

ORDER 1 – COMMENCEMENT

1. These Rules shall apply to all proceedings including all part-heard causes and maters in respect of steps to be further taken in such causes and matters.
2. Application of these Rules shall be directed towards the achievement of a just, efficient and speedy dispensation of justice.
   (1) These Rules shall be interpreted in accordance with the Interpretation LAWS OF THE FEDERATION 2006 or any reenactment thereof.
   (2) In the construction of these Rules, unless there is anything in the subject or context repugnant thereto, the several words hereinafter mentioned or referred to shall have or include the following meanings:
   “Plaintiff” shall include a Plaintiff in a counter claim;
   “Court” means the High Court of Plateau State;
   “Court Process” or “Process” includes writ of summons, originating summons, originating process, notices petitions, pleadings, orders, motions, summons, warrants and all documents or written communication of which service is required;
   “Decision” means any decision of a Court and includes judgment, ruling, decree, order, conviction, sentence or recommendation;
   “Defendant” shall include a defendant to a counter claim;
   “Guardian” means any person who has for the time being, the charge of or control over a person under legal disability and includes a person appointed to institute or defend an action on behalf of any person under legal disability;
   “Judicial Zone” means the Zone enacted for commencement of trial of suits and Appeal.
   “Law” means the High Court Law, Cap. 113. Laws of Plateau State 1963 or any re-enactment thereof.
   “Minor” means a person who has not attained the age of 18 years;
   “Originating process” means any court process by which a suit is initiated;
   “Persons Under Legal Disability” means persons who lack capacity to institute or defend any proceeding by reason of age, insanity, unsoundness of mind or otherwise.
   “Probate action” means an action for the grant of probate of the will, or letters of administration of the estate of a deceased person or for the revocation of such a grant or for a decree pronouncing for or against the validity of an alleged will, not being an action which is non-contentious or common form probate business;
   “Registrar” means the Chief Registrar, Deputy Chief Registrar, Assistant Chief Registrar, Principal Registrar, Senior Registrar, Higher Registrar, Higher Registrar, or any other officer acting or performing the functions of a Registrar;
   “Registry” means the Registry of the High Court of Plateau State in the appropriate Judicial Zone.

ORDER 2 – PLACE OF INSTITUTING AND TRIAL OF SUITS

1. Subject to the provisions of the Law on transfer of suits, he place for trial of any suit shall be regulated as follow:
   All suits relating to land or any mortgage or charge on or any interest in land, or any inquiry or damage to land and actions relating to personal property distrained or seized for any cause, shall be commenced and determined in the Judicial Zone in which the land is situated, or the distrain or to place.
   All actions for recovery of penalties, forfeitures, and all actions against public officers shall be commenced and tried in the Judicial Zone in which he cause of action arose.
   All suits for the specific performance, or upon the breach of any contract may be commenced and determined in the Judicial Zone in which such contract ought to have been performed or in which the defendant resides or carries on business.

1. All other suits may be commenced and determined in the Judicial Zone in which the defendant resides or carries on business.

2. Where there are several defendants who reside or carry on business in different Judicial Zones, the suit may be commenced in any one of those Judicial Zones subject to any order or direction a judge may make or give as to the most convenient arrangement for trial of the suit. If any suit is commenced in the wrong Judicial Zone, it may be tried in that Zone unless the Chief Judge otherwise directs.

ORDER 3 – FORM AND COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION

1. (1)Subject to the provisions of these rules or any applicable law requiring any proceedings to be begun otherwise than by writ, a writ of summons shall be the form of commencing all proceedings.

(2) Where a Plaintiff claims:
a. Any relief or remedy for any civil wrong, or; Damages for breach of duty, whether contractual, statutory or otherwise; or Damages for personal injuries to or wrongful death of any person, or in respect of damage or injury to any person, or property.
b. Where the claim is based on or includes an allegation of fraud, or where an interested person claims a declaration.

2. (1) All civil proceedings commenced by writ of summons shall be accompanied by:
   statement of claim; list of witnesses to be called at the trial; written statements on oath of the witnesses; and copies of every document to be relied on at the trial.

(2) Where a plaintiff fails to comply with Rules 2(1) above, his originating process shall not be accepted for fling by the Registry.

3. (1) Except in the cases in which any different forms are provided in these Rules, the writ of summons shall be in Form 1 with such modifications or variations as circumstances may require.

(2) In land matters a Plaintiff may file a motion on notice along with an originating process for leave to enter the land in dispute for purpose of making a survey plan. In such cases, the copy of the survey plan shall be filed at such time as the court may direct in granting the application for leave to enter the land in dispute for the production of a survey plan.

(3) Proceedings may be commenced by originating motion or petition whereby these rules or under any written Law the proceedings in question are required or authorized to be so begun, but not otherwise.

4. A writ of summons to be served out of Nigeria shall be in Form 2 with such modifications or variations as circumstances may require.
5. Any person claiming to be interested under a deed, Will, enactment or other written instrument may apply by originating summons for the determination of any question of construction arising under the instrument and for a declaration of the rights of the persons interested.
6. Any person claiming any legal or equitable right in a case where the determination of the question whether he is entitled to the right depends upon a question of construction of an enactment, may apply by originating summons for the determination of such question of construction and for a declaration as to the right claimed.
7. A Judge shall not be bound to determine any such question of construction if in his opinion it ought not to be determined by originating summons and may make any such orders as he deems fit.
8. (1) An originating summons shall be in the Forms 3,4, or 5 to these rules, with such variations as circumstances may require. It shall be prepared by the applicant or his Legal Practitioner, and shall be sealed and filed in the Registry, and when so sealed and filed shall be deemed to be issued.

(2) An originating summons shall be accompanied by:
An affidavit setting out the facts relied upon;
all the exhibits to be relied upon;
all the exhibits to be relied upon;
a written address in support of the application.

(3) The person filing the originating summons shall leave at the Registry sufficient number of copies thereof together with the documents in sub-rule 2.

9. Subject to the provisions of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, a writ of summons or other originating process issued by the Court for service in Nigeria outside Plateau State shall be endorsed by the Registry of the Court with the following notice.

“This summons (or as the case may be) is to be served out of Plateau State of Nigeria and in the………………………………..State”

10. (1) The Registrar shall indicate the date and time of presentation for filing on every originating process presented to him and shall arrange for service thereof to be effected.

(2) An originating process shall not be altered after it is sealed except upon application to a Judge.

ORDER 4 – ENDORSEMENT OF CLAIM AND OF ADDRESS

1. Every originating process shall contain the claim, the relief or remedy sought and the full names and address of the plaintiff.
2. In probate actions the originating process shall state whether a plaintiff claims as creditor, execution, administrator, beneficiary, next of kin or in any other capacity.
3. (1) Where the claim is for debt or liquidated demand only, the originating process shall state the amount claimed for debt or in respect of such demand with costs and shall further state that the defendant may pay the amount with costs to the plaintiff’s Legal Practitioner within the time allowed for appearance and that upon such payment the proceeding shall terminate.

(2) The defendant may notwithstanding payment under this rule, have the costs taxed and if more than one sixth of the costs shall be disallowed, the plaintiff’s Legal Practitioner shall pay the costs of taxation.

4. In all cases where a plaintiff in the first instance desires to have an account taken, the originating process shall so state.

5. (1) A plaintiff suing in person shall state on the originating process his residential or business address as his address for service. If he lives and carries on business outside the jurisdiction he shall state an address within the jurisdiction as his address for service.

(2) Where a plaintiff sues through a Legal Practitioner the Legal Practitioner shall state on the originating process his chamber’s address as the address for service. If the Legal Practitioner is based outside the jurisdiction he shall state a chamber’s address within the jurisdiction as his address for service.

6. Where an originating process is to be served on a defendant outside the jurisdiction the process shall state the address required in Rule 5.

7. If the originating process does not state an address for service, it shall not be accepted and if any such address is illusory, fictitious or misleading the process may be set aside by a Judge on the application of the defendant.

ORDER 5 – EFFECT OF NON-COMPLIANCE

1. (1) Where in beginning or purporting to begin any proceeding or any stage in the course of or in connection with any proceedings, there has, by reason of anything done or left undone, been a failure to company with the requirements of these rules, whether in respect of time, place, manner, form or content or any other respect, the failure may be treated as an irregularity and if so treated, will not nullify the proceedings or any document, judgment or order therein.

(2) The Court may on the ground that there has been such a failure as mentioned in paragraph (1) and on such terms as to cost or otherwise as it deems just, set aside either wholly or in part the proceedings in which the failure occurred, any step taken in those proceedings or any document, judgment or order therein, or it may exercise its powers under these rules to allow such amendments (if any) to be made and to make such order (if any) dealing with the proceedings generally as it thinks fit.

2. (1) An application to set aside for irregularity any proceedings, any step taken in any proceedings or any document, judgment or order therein shall not be allowed unless it is made within reasonable time and before the party applying has taken any fresh step after becoming aware of the irregularity.

(2) Any application under the foregoing paragraph may be made by summons or motion or notice, and the grounds of objection shall be stated in the summons or notice of motion.

ORDER 6 – ISSUE OF ORIGINATING PROCESS

1. Originating process shall be prepared by a plaintiff or his Legal Practitioner, and shall be clearly printed on Opague A4 paper of good quality.
2. (1) The Registrar shall seal every originating process whereupon it shall be deemed to be issued.

(2) A plaintiff or his Legal Practitioner shall, on presenting any originating process for sealing, leave with the Registrar as many copies of the
process as there are defendants to be served and one copy for endorsement of service on each defendant.

(3) Each copy shall be signed by the Legal Practitioner or by a plaintiff where he sues in person and shall be certified after verification by the Registrar as being a true copy of the original process filed.

3. The Registrar shall after sealing an originating process, file it and note on it the date of filing and the number of copies supplied by a plaintiff or his Legal Practitioner for service on the defendants. The Registrar shall then make an entry of the filing in the cause book and identify the action with a suit number that may comprise abbreviation of the Judicial Division, a chronological number and the year of filing.

 

4. The Registrar shall promptly arrange for personal service on each defendant of a copy of the originating process and accompanying documents duly certified as provided by Rule 2(3) of this order.
5. The originating process in probate actions shall be accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by a plaintiff or one of several plaintiff’s verifying the contents of the process.

 

6. (1) The life span of every originating process shall be 6 months.

(2) If a Judge is satisfied that it has proved impossible to serve an originating process on any defendant within its life span and a plaintiff applies before its expiration for renewal of the process, the Judge may renew the original or concurrent process for 3 months from the date of such renewal. A renewed originating process shall be in Form 6 with such modifications or variations as circumstances may require.

7. A Judge may order two renewals in each case strictly for good cause and upon prompt application, provided that no originating process shall be in force for longer than a total of 12 months. The Registrar shall state the fact, date, and duration of renewal on every renewed originating process.

 

8. Where an originating process is lost after issue, a Judge, upon being satisfied of the loss and of the correctness of the process, may order the copy to be filed and sealed in place of the lost originating process.

 

9. A plaintiff may at the issuance of an originating process or at any time during its life span, cause to be issued one or more concurrent originating processes each to bear the same date as the initial process marked ‘CONCURRENT’ and have stated on it the date of issue.
10. An originating process for service within jurisdiction may be issued and marked as a concurrent originating process with one for service out of jurisdiction and an originating process for service out of the jurisdiction may be issued and marked as a concurrent origination process with one for service within jurisdiction.

 

ORDER 7 – SERVICE OF ORIGINATING PROCESS

1. Service within Jurisdiction

Service of writs of summons, notices, petitions, pleadings, orders, summons, warrants and of all other proceedings, documents, or written communications of which service is required, shall be made by the Sheriff or a deputy Sheriff, bailiff office of the court, or by a person appointed therefore (either especially or generally by the Court or by a Judge in Chambers), unless another mode of service is prescribed by these rules, or the Court or a Judge in Chambers otherwise direct: Provided that when a party is represented by a legal practitioner, service of notices, pleadings petitions order summonses, warrants and of all other proceedings, documents or written communications of which personal service is not required may be made by or on such legal practitioner or his clerk under his control.

2. Save as otherwise prescribed by any of these rules an originating process shall be served personally by delivering to the person to be served a copy of the original process filed, without exhibiting the original thereof.

 

3. No service of a writ of summons or other process on the defendant shall be necessary when the defendant by his legal practitioner undertakes in writing to accept service.

 

4. The Court may in any civil case, for reasons which shall seem to it sufficient, appoint any process to be executed by a special bailiff, who for the time being shall have the privileges and liabilities of an officer of court. The expense of such special bailiff shall be defrayed by the party on whose application he is appointed unless the court in any case sees reason to vary this rule.

5. Where it appears to the Court (either after or without an attempt at personal service) that for any reason personal service cannot be conveniently effected, the curt may order that service be effected either-

(a) by delivery f the document to some adult inmate at the usual or last known place of abode or business of the person to be served; or

(b) by delivery thereof to some person being an agent of the person to be served, or to some other person, on it being proved that there is reasonable probability that the document would in the ordinary cause, through that agent or other person, come to the knowledge of the person to be served;

(c) by advertisement in the State Gazette, or in some newspaper circulating within the jurisdiction; or

(d) by notice put up at the principal court-house of, or some other place of public resort in the Judicial Division wherein the proceeding in respect of which the service is made is instituted, or at the usual or last known place of abode, or of business, of the person to be served.

6. When a party to be served is in the service of any Ministry or non- Ministerial Department of Government or of a Local Government, the Court may transmit the document to be served and a copy thereof to the senior officer of the Department of Government in the Judicial Division or place where the party to be served works or resides or to the Local Government in whose service is the party to be served, and such office, or Local Government shall cause the same to be served on the proper party accordingly.

 

7. Where partners are sued in the name of their firm, the writ or other document shall be served either upon any one or more of the partners, or at the principal place within the judicial division of the business of the partnership upon any person having at the time of the service the control or  management of the partnership business there; and such service shall be deemed good service upon the firm.

8. When the suit is against a corporation or a company authorized to sue and be sued in its name or in the name of an officer or trustee, the writ or other document may be served, subject to the enactment establishing such corporation or company or under which it is registered, as the case may be, by giving the same to any director, secretary, or other principal officer, or by leaving it at the office, of the corporation or company.
9. Where the person on whom service is to be effected is living or serving on board of any ship, it shall be sufficient to deliver the writ or other document to the person on board who is at the time of such service apparently in charge of such ship.

10. Where the person on whom service is to be effected is a prisoner in a prison, or a lunatic in any asylum, it shall be sufficient service to deliver the writ or other document at the prison or asylum to the superintendent or person appearing to be the head officer in charge.
11. Where an infant is a party to an action, service on his father or guardian, or if none, then upon the person with whom the infant resides or under whose care he is, shall, unless the court or a Judge in Chambers otherwise orders, be deemed good personal service on the infant:

Provided that the court or Judge may order that service made or to be made on an infant personally shall be deemed good service.

12. Where service is to be made upon a person residing out of, but carrying on business within, the jurisdiction in his own name or under the name of a firm through an authorized agent, and the proceeding is limited to a cause of action which arose within the jurisdiction the writ or other document may be served by giving it to such agent, and such service shall be equivalent to personal service. Service out of Jurisdiction.
13. Service out of jurisdiction of a writ of summons or notice of a writ of summons may be allowed by the court or a judge in chambers whenever-

(1) the whole subject matter of the action is land situate within the jurisdiction (with or without rents or profits); or

(2) any act, deed, will contract, obligation, or liability affecting land or hereditaments situate within the jurisdiction, is sought to be construed, rectified, set aside, or enforced in the action; or

(3) any relief is sought against any person domiciled, or ordinarily resident, within the jurisdiction; or

(4) the action is for the administration of the personal estate of any deceased person, who at the time of his death was domiciled within the jurisdiction or for the execution (as to property situate within the jurisdiction) of the trusts of any written instrument, which ought to be executed according to the law in force in the jurisdiction; or

(5) the action is one brought against the defendant to enforce, rescind, dissolve, annul or otherwise affect a contract or to recover damages
or other relief for or in respect of a breach of a contract-

(a) made within the jurisdiction, or
(b) made by or through an agent trading or residing within the jurisdiction on behalf of a principal trading or residing out of the jurisdiction, or by its terms or by implication to be governed by the law in force in the jurisdiction, or is brought against the defendant in respect of a breach committed within the jurisdiction of a contract wherever made, even though such breach was preceded or accompanied by a breach out of the jurisdiction which rendered impossible the performance of the part of the contract which ought to have been performed within the jurisdiction; or

(6) the action is founded on a tort or other civil wrong committed within the jurisdiction; or

(7) any injunction is sought as to any thing to be done within the jurisdiction, or any nuisance within the jurisdiction is sought to be presented or removed, whether damages are or are not also sought in respect thereof; or

(8) any person out of jurisdiction is a necessary or proper party to an action properly brought against some other party within the jurisdiction; or

(9) the action is by a mortgage or mortgagee in relation to a mortgage of property situate within the jurisdiction and seeks relief of the nature
or kind following that is to say: sale foreclosure, delivery of possession by the mortgagor, redemption, reconveyance, delivery of possession by the mortgagee; but does not seek (unless and except so far as permissible under paragraph (5) of this rule) any personal judgment or order for payment of any moneys due under the mortgage; or

(10) the action is one brought under the Civil Aviation Act or any regulations made in pursuance of such Act or any law relating to carriage by air.

 

14. Out of Jurisdiction in this Order means out of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

15. Every application for leave to serve such writ or notice on a defendant out of the jurisdiction shall be supported by affidavit or other evidence stating that in the belief of the deponent the plaintiff has a good cause of action and showing in what place or country such defendant is or probably may be founds, and whether such defendant is a Commonwealth citizen or not, and the grounds upon which the application is made, and no such leave shall be granted unless it shall be made sufficiently to appear to the court or a Judge in Chambers that the case is a proper one for service out of the jurisdiction under these rules.

 

16. Any order giving leave to effect such service or give such notice shall limit a time after such service or notice within which such defendant is to enter an appearance such time to depend on the place or country where or within which the writ is to be served or the notice given, and on whether the airmail is available to such defendant.

17. (1) When the defendant is neither a Commonwealth citizen or in any Commonwealth country, notice of the writ and not the writ itself, is to be served upon him.

(2) Where leave is given under the foregoing provision to serve notice of the writ of summons out of the jurisdiction, such notice shall be served in the manner in which writs of summons are served.

18. (1) Service out of the jurisdiction may be allowed by the court or a Judge in chambers of the following processes or of notices, that is to say-

(a) an originating summons, where the proceedings begun by an originating summons might have been begun by a writ of summons within these rules;

(b) any originating summons, petition, notice of motion or other originating proceedings –
In relation to any infant or lunatic or person of unsound mind; or

Under any law or enactment under which proceedings can be commenced otherwise than by writ of summons; or

under any rule of court whereunder proceedings can be commenced otherwise than by writ of summons; or

(c) without prejudice to the generality of the last foregoing paragraph any summons, order or notice in any interpleader proceedings or for the appointment of an arbitrator or umpire or to remit, set aside, or enforce an award in an arbitration held or to be held within the jurisdiction.

(d) any summons, order or notice in any proceedings duly instituted whether by writ of summons or other such originating process as aforesaid.

(2) Where the person on whom an originating summons, petition, notice of motion, or other originating proceedings or a summons, order or notice is to be served is neither a Commonwealth citizen nor residing within the Commonwealth countries, a copy of the document concerned shall be served, together with an intimation in writing that a process in the form of the copy has been issued or otherwise launched.

(3) The provisions of rules 15, 16 and 17(2) of this Order shall apply mutatis mutandis to service under this rule.

 

19. (1) Where leave is given to serve a writ of summons or a notice of writ of summons in any foreign country other than a country with which a convention in that behalf has been made, the following procedure may be adopted: the document to be served shall be sealed with the seal of the Court for use out of the jurisdiction, and shall be transmitted to the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Justice by the Chief Registrar on the direction of the Chief Judge, together with a copy thereof translated into the language of the country in which service is to be effected and with a request for transmission to the Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs for the further transmission of the same to the Government of the country in which leave to serve the document has been given. Such request shall be in Form 7 in the Appendix with such variations as circumstances may require. The party bespeaking a copy of a document for service under this section shall, at all time of bespeaking the same, file a praecipe in Form 8 of the Appendix; An official certificate, or declaration upon oath or otherwise, transmitted through the diplomatic channel by the Government or court of a foreign country to which this provision applies, to the court, shall, provided that it certified or declares the document to have been personally served, or to have been duly served upon the defendant in accordance with the law of such foreign country, or words to that effect, be deemed to be sufficient proof of such service, and shall be filed of records as, and be equivalent to an affidavit of services within the requirements of these rules in that behalf.

(2) where an official certificate or declaration, transmitted to the court in manner provided in the last proceeding paragraph certified or declares that efforts to serve a document have been without effect the court or a Judge may, upon the exparte application of the plaintiff, order substituted service of such document, and the document and copy of the same, and the order shall be sealed and transmitted to the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Justice in the manner aforesaid together with a request in Form 9 of the Appendix, with such variations as circumstances may require. Nothing herein contained shall in any way prejudice or affect any practice or power of the court under which when lands, funds, choses in action, rights or property within the jurisdiction are sought to be dealt with or affected, the Court may, without affecting to exercise jurisdiction, over any person out of the jurisdiction cause such person to be informed of the nature or existence of the proceeding with a view to such person having an opportunity of claim, opposing or otherwise intervening.

 

20. (1) Where, for the purpose of an action under the Civil Aviation Act and the convention therein set out, leave is given to serve a notice of writ
    of summons upon a high contracting party to the Convention other than Nigeria, the provisions of this rule shall apply.

(2) The notice shall specify the time for entering an appearance as limited in pursuance of rule 16.

(3) The notice shall be sealed with the seal of the court for service out of the jurisdiction, and shall be transmitted to the Ministry of Justice, together with a copy thereof translated into the language of the country of the defendant, and with a request for transmission to the Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs for further transmission of the same to the Government of that country.

(4) The request shall be in Form 10 in the Appendix, with such variations as circumstances may require.

(5) The party bespeaking a copy of a document for service under this rule shall at the time or bespeaking he same file a praecipe in Form 9 in
the Appendix.

(6) An official certificate from the Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs transmitted by the Ministry of Justice or otherwise to the court certifying that the notice was delivered on a specified date to the Government of the country of the defendant shall be deemed to be sufficient proof of service and shall be filed of record as, and be equivalent to an affidavit of service within the requirement of these rules in that behalf.

(7) After entry of appearance by the defendant, or, if no appearance is entered, after expiry of the time limited for appearance, the action may proceed to judgment in all respects as if the defendant had for the purposes of the action waived all privileges and submitted to the jurisdiction of the court.

(8) Where it is desired to serve or deliver a summons, order or notice in the proceedings on the defendant out of the jurisdiction the provisions of this rule shall apply with such variation as circumstances may require.

 

21. Where leave is given in a civil cause or matter or where such leave is not require, and it is desired to serve any writ of summons, originating summons, notice, or other document in any foreign country with which a Convention in that behalf has been or shall be made, the following procedure shall, subject to any special provisions contained in the Convention, be adopted.

(a) the party bespeaking such service shall file in the registry a request in Form 8 or Form 66 in the Appendix, which form may be varied as may be necessary to meet the circumstances of the particular case, in which I is used. Such request shall state the medium through which it is desired the service shall be effected, i.e. whether:

(i) directly through the diplomatic channels, or
(ii) through the foreign judicial authority, and shall be accompanied by the original document and a translator thereof in the language of the country in which service is to be effected, certified by or on behalf of the person to be served and further copies which the convention may require (unless the service is required to be made on a Nigerian subject directly through the Diplomatic Channels in which case the translation and copies thereof need not accompany the request unless the Convention expressly requires that they should do so).

(b) the documents to be served shall be sealed with the seal of Court for use out of the jurisdiction and shall be forwarded by the Registrar to the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs for transmission to the foreign country.

(c) an official certificate, transmitted through the diplomatic channel by the foreign judicial authority, or by a Nigeria Diplomatic Agent to the Court, establishing the fact and the date of the service of the document, shall be deemed to be sufficient proof of such service, and shall be filed of record as, and be equivalent to an affidavit of service within the requirements of these rules in that behalf.

 

22. Rule 21 shall not apply to or render invalid or insufficient any mode of service in any foreign country with which a Convention has been or shall be made which is otherwise valid or sufficient according to the procedure of the court and which is not expressly excluded by the convention made which such foreign country.

 

23. The Court or Judge, in giving leave to serve a document out of the jurisdiction under these rules, may in an appropriate case direct that the air mail service shall be used by the party effecting service.

 

24. Where in any civil cause or matter pending before a Court or tribunal in any foreign country with which a Convention in that behalf has been or shall be made, a request for service of any document on a person within the jurisdiction is received by the Chief Judge from the consular or other authority of such country the following procedure shall, subject to any special provision contained in the Convention, be adopted.

(a) he service shall be effected by the delivery of the original or a Copy of he document, as indicated in the request, and the copy of the translation, to the party or person to be served in person by an officer of the court, unless the court or a Judge in chambers thinks fit otherwise to direct.

(b) no court fees shall be charged in respect of the service. The particulars of charges of the officer employed to effect service shall be submitted to the Chief Registrar of the Court shall certify the amount properly payable in respect thereof.

(c) the Chef Judge shall transmit to the consular or other authority making the request a certificate establishing the fact and the date of the service in person, or indicating the reason for which it has not been possible to effect it, and at the same time shall notify to the said consular or other authority the amount of the charges certified under paragraph (b) thereof.

 

25. Upon the application of the Attorney-General, the Court or a Judge in chambers may make all such order for substituted service or otherwise as may be necessary to give effect to rule 18 and 23.

 

26. Any order giving leave to effect service out of the jurisdiction shall prescribe the mode of service, and shall limit a time after such service within which the defendant is to enter an appearance, such time to depend on the place or country where or within which the writ is to be served, and the court may receive an affidavit or statutory declaration of such service having been effected as prima facie evidence thereof.

 

27. General Provisions

Where the officer of court or person charged with the service of any writ or document or any person is prevented by the violence or threats of writ or documents, it shall be sufficient to inform the person to be served of the nature of the writ or document as near such person as practicable.

 

28. In all cases where service of any writ or document shall have been effected by a bailiff or other officer of Court an affidavit of service sworn to by such bailiffs or other officer shall on production, without proof of signature, be prima facie evidence of service.

 

29. The costs of and incidental to the execution of any process in a suit shall be paid in the first place by the party requiring such execution, and the sheriff shall not (except by order of the court) be bound to serve or execute any process unless the fees and reasonable expenses thereof shall have been previously paid or tendered to him.

 

30. Services shall not be made on a Sunday or public holiday, unless the court directs otherwise by order endorsed on the document to be served.

 

31. A book shall be kept at every court for recording service or process, in such form as the Chief Judge may direct, in which shall be entered by the officer serving the process, or by the registrar, the names of plaintiff or complainant and the defendant, the particular court issuing the process, the method, whether personal or otherwise, of the service and the manner in which the person serving ascertained that he served the process on the right person, and where any process shall not have been duly served, then the cause if failure shall be state and every entry in such book or an office copy of any entry shall be prima facie evidence of the several matters therein stated.

 

 

ORDER 8 – APPEARANCE

1. (1) A defendant shall within the time limited in the writ or other originating process enter an appearance in the manner hereinafter prescribed.

(2) A defendant shall enter an appearance by delivering to the Registrar the requisite documents, that is to say, a memorandum of appearance in form II, or where leave was obtained before appearance, a notice in form 12. Such memorandum or notice shall be accompanied, where the defendant is an infant, by an affidavit sworn to be his legal practitioner and the consent of his guardian as if Form 14 in the Appendix, with such variations as the circumstances may require, and a copy thereof.

All such documents shall be signed by the legal practitioner by whom the defendant appears or, if the defendant appears in person, by the defendant.

(3) On receipt of the requisite documents, the Registrar shall in all cases enter the appearance in the Cause Book and stamp the copies of the memorandum of appearance with the official stamp showing the date on which he received those documents, and deliver one sealed copy thereof to the plaintiff or as the case may be, his legal practitioner.

 

2. (1) A defendant appearing in person shall state in the memorandum of appearance an address for service which shall be within the jurisdiction.

(2) Where a defendant appears through a legal practitioner, the legal practitioner shall state in the memorandum of appearance his place of business and an address for service which shall be within the jurisdiction, and where any legal practitioner is only the agent of another legal practitioner, he shall also insert the name and place of business of the principal legal practitioner.

 

3. If the memorandum does not contain an address for service, it shall not be accepted. If any such address is illusory or fictitious or misleading, the appearance may be set aside by the Court or a Judge in Chambers on the application of the plaintiff.

 

4. If two or more defendants in the same action shall appear by the same legal practitioner and at the same time, the names of all the defendants so appearing may be inserted in one memorandum.

 

5. A defendant may appear at any time before judgment. If he appears at any time after the time limited by the writ for appearance, he shall not, unless the court or a Judge in Chambers shall otherwise order, be entitled to any further time for delivering his defence, or for any purpose, than if he had appeared according to the writ or other originating proceedings.

 

6. Any person appearing in an action for the recovery of lad shall be at liberty to limit his defence to a part only of the property mentioned in the action, describing that part with reasonable certainty in his memorandum of appearance. Such appearance shall be in Form 13.

 

7. A defendant before entering an unconditional appearance shall be at liberty (without obtaining an order to enter, entering, a conditional appearance) to take out a summons to set aside the service upon him of the writ or other process, or to discharge the order authorizing such service.

 

8. The provisions of this Order shall not apply in actions commenced before the coming into operation of these rules.

 

ORDER 9 – DEFAULT OF APPEARANCE

1. Where a writ of summons is endorsed for a liquidated demand, whether specially or otherwise, and the defendant fails or all the defendants if more than one, fail, to appear thereto, the plaintiff may have entered in his favour final judgment for any sum not exceeding the sum endorsed on the writ, together with interest at the rate specified (if any), or (if no rate be specified) as the rate of six per cent per annum, to the date of the judgment, and costs:

Provided that this rule shall not apply to an action by a money lenderor an assignee for the recovery of money lent by a money lender, or to an action for the enforcement of any agreement or security relating to any such money.

 

2. Where the writ of summons is endorsed for a liquidated demand, whether specially or otherwise, and there are several defendants, of whom one or more appear to the writ, and another or others of them fail to appear, the plaintiff may have final judgment entered, as in the preceding rule, against those that have not appeared, and may issue execution upon such judgment without prejudice to his right to proceed with the action against those who have appeared.

 

3. (1) Where the action is for the recovery of land, with or without any other related claim, and no appearance is entered within the time limited for appearance, the plaintiff shall be at liberty to have judgment entered for him.

(2) If an appearance is entered but the defence is limited to part only the plaintiff may have judgment entered for him on the undefended part of his claim, and the rest of the claim may be proceeded with in the normal way.

 

4. In any case to which rules 1, 2, and 3 apply, in which the defendant fails, or all the defendants, if more than one, fail, to appear, but in which by reason of payment, satisfaction, abatement of nuisance, or for any other reason it is unnecessary for the plaintiff to proceed with the action, the may, be leave of Court or a Judge in Chambers to be obtained on summons in Chambers, have judgment entered for costs:

Provided that such summons shall be filed and shall be serve in the manner in which service of the writ has been effected or in such other manner as the Court or a Judge in Chambers shall direct.

 

5. In all actions not specially provided for in this order, if the defendant fails to enter appearance within the stipulated time, the plaintiff may apply for the case to be set down for hearing, and upon such hearing, the Court my give any judgment that the plaintiff appears to be entitled to on the facts.

 

6. Where Judgment is entered pursuant to any of the preceding rules of this order, it shall be lawful for the Court or a Judge in Chambers to set aside or vary such judgment upon such terms as may be just.

 

7. Where a defendant or respondent to an originating summons to which an appearance is required to be entered fails to appear within the time limited, the plaintiff or applicant may apply to the Court or a Judge in chambers for an appointment for the hearing of such summons and upon a certificate that no appearance has been entered, the Court or Judge shall appoint a time for the hearing of such summons upon such conditions (if any) as it or he shall think fit.

 

8. Where no appearance has been entered to a writ of summons for a defendant who is an infant or a person of unsound mind not adjudged a lunatic, the plaintiff shall before further proceeding with action against the defendant, apply to the Court or a Judge in Chambers for an order that some proper person be assigned guardian of such defendant by whom he may appear and defend the action. But no such order shall be made unless it appears that application was, after the expiration of the time allowed for appearance, and at least six clear days before the day named in such notice for hearing the
   application, served upon or left at the dwelling-house of the person with whom or under whose care such defendant was of the time of serving such writ of summons, and also (in the case of such defendant being an infant not residing with or under the care of his father or guardian) served upon or left at the dwelling-house of the father or guardian (if any) of such infant, unless the Court or Judge in chambers at the time of hearing such application shall dispense with such last mentioned service.

 

9. (1) In an action brought by a money lender or an assignee for the recovery money lent by a money lender or the enforcement of any agreement or security relating to any such money, an application for leave to enter judgment in default of appearance shall be made by notice returnable not less than four clear days after service of the notice.

(2) The notice shall not be issue until the time limited for entering appearance has expired, and a proper affidavit of service of the writ has been filed.

(3) The notice shall be in accordance with Form 38A in the Appendix with such variations as circumstances may require, and shall be served personally.

(4) At the hearing of the application, whether the defendant appears or not, the Court or Judge in chambers may exercise the relevant powers of the Court under the Money-lender Law.

 

10. The provisions of this order shall not apply in actions commenced before the coming into operation of these rules.

 

11. Where the claim in the originating process is as in rules 5 of this order and there are several defendants, one or some of whom appear while another or other do not appear, a plaintiff may apply for judgment against the defendant (s) failing to appear. The value of the goods and the damages or the damages only as the case may be shall be ascertain in such manner and subject to the filing of such particulars as a Judge may direct before judgment in respect of that part of the claim.

 

 

ORDER 10 – SUMMARY JUDGMENT

1. Where a plaintiff believes that there is no defence to his claim, he shall file with his originating process the statement of claim, the exhibits, the depositions of his witnesses and an application for summary judgment which application shall be supported by a affidavit stating the grounds for his belief and a written brief in respect thereof.

 

2. A plaintiff shall deliver to the Registrar as many copies of all the processes and documents referred to in Rule 1 of this Order as there are defendants.

 

3. Service of all the processes and documents referred to in Rule 1 of this Order shall be effected in the manner provided under Order 7.

 

4. Where a party served with the processes and documents referred to in Rule 11 of this Order intends to defend the suit he shall, not later than the time prescribed for defence, file.

(a) his statement of defence
(b) depositions of his witnesses
(c) exhibits to be used in his defence; and
(d) a written brief in reply to the application for summary judgment.

 

5. (1) Where it appears to a Judge that the defendant has a good defence and ought to be permitted to defend the claim he may be granted leave to defend.

(2) Where it appears to a Judge that the defendant has no good defence the Judge may thereupon enter judgment for a plaintiff.

(3) Where it appears to a Judge that the defendant has a good defence to part of the claim but no defence to other parts of the claim, the Judge may thereupon enter judgment for that part of the claim to which there is no defence and grant leave to defend that part to which there is a defence.

 

6. Where there are several defendants and tit appears to a Judge that any of the defendants has a good defence and ought to be permitted to defend the claim and other defendants have no good defence and ought not to be permitted to defend the former may be permitted to defend and the judge shall enter judgment against the latter.

 

7. Where provision is made for written briefs under these rules, each party shall be at liberty to advance before a Judge oral submission to expatiate his written brief.

 

ORDER 11 – ACCOUNTS AND INQUIRIES

1. (1) Where a writ is endorsed with a claim for an account or claim which necessarily involves taking an account, the plaintiff may, at any time after the defendant has entered an appearance or after he time limited for appearing, apply for an order for an account under this rule.

(2) An application under this rule shall be made by summons and supported by affidavit or other evidence.

(3) On the hearing of the application, the court may unless satisfied by the defendant by affidavit or otherwise that thee is some preliminary question to be tried, order than an account be taken and may also order that any amount certified on taking the account to be due to either party be paid to him within a time specified in the order.

 

2. (1) The Court may, on application made by summons at any stage of the proceedings in a cause or matter, direct any necessary accounts or inquiries to be taken or made.

(2) Every direction for the taking of an account or the making of an inquiry shall be numbered in the judgment or order so that, as far as may be each distinct account and inquiry may be designated by a number.

 

3. (1) Where he Court orders an account to be taken, it may by the same or subsequent order give directions with regard to the manner in which the account is to be taken or vouched.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1) the Court may direct that in taking the account the relevant books of account shall be evidence of the matters contained therein with liberty to the parties interested to take such objections thereto as they think fit.

 

4. (1) Where an account has been ordered to be taken, the accounting party must make out his account and, unless the court otherwise directs, verity it by an affidavit to which the account shall be exhibited.

(2) The items on each side of the account shall be numbered consecutively.

(3) Unless the order for the taking of the account otherwise directs, the accounting party shall lodge the account with the Court and shall at the same time notify the other parties that he has done so and of the filing of any affidavit verifying the account and of any supporting affidavit.

 

5. Any party who seeks to charge an accounting party with an amount beyond that which he has by his account admitted to have received or who alleges that any item in his account is erroneous in respect of amount or in any other respect shall give him notice thereof stating, so far as he is able, the amount sought to be charged with brief particulars thereof or, as the case may be, the grounds for alleging that the item is erroneous.

 

6. In taking any account directed by any judgment or order, all just allowances shall be made without any direction to that effect.

 

7. (1) If it appears to the Court that there is undue delay in the prosecution of any accounts or inquiries, or in any other proceedings under any judgment or order, the Court may require the party having the conduct of the proceedings or any other party to explain the delay and may then make such order for staying the proceedings or for expediting them or for the conduct thereof and for costs as the circumstances require.

(2) The Court may direct any party or legal practitioner to take over the conduct of proceedings in question and to carry out any directions made by an order under this rule and may make such order as it thinks fit as to the payment of legal practitioner’s costs.

 

8. Where some of the persons entitled to share in a fund are ascertained, and difficulty or delay has occurred or is likely to occur in ascertaining the other persons so entitled, the Court may order or allow immediate payment of their shares to the persons ascertained without reserving any part of these shares to meet the subsequent costs of ascertaining those other persons.

 

ORDER 12 – REFERENCE TO REFEREES

1. In any case in which a matter is referred to a referee under the provisions of the High Court Law, the Court shall furnish the referee with such part of the proceedings and such information and detailed instructions as may appear necessary for his guidance, and shall direct the parties, if necessary, to attend upon the referee during the inquiry. The instructions shall specify whether the referee is merely to transmit the proceedings which he may hold on the inquiry, or also to report his own opinion on the point referred for his investigation.

 

2. The Court may at any stage of the proceedings direct any such necessary inquiries, or accounts to be made or taken notwithstanding that it may appear that there is some special or further relief sought form or some special issue to be tried, as to which it may be proper that the cause or matter should proceed in the ordinary manner.

 

3. The referee may, subject to the order of the Court, hold that inquiry at, or adjourn it to, any place which he may deem most expedient, and have any inspection or view which he may deem expedient, for the disposal of the controversy before him. He shall, as far as practicable, proceed with the inquiry from day to day.

 

4. Subject to any order to be made by the Court ordering he inquiry, evidence shall be taken at any inquiry before a referee and the attendance of witnesses to give evidence before a referee may be enforced by the court in the same manner as such attendance may be enforced before the court; and every such inquiry shall be conducted in the same manner as nearly as circumstances will admit as trials before a Judge of the Court, but not so as to make the tribunal of the referee a public court of justice.

 

5. Subject to any order of Court, the referee shall have the same authority in the conduct of any inquiry as a Judge of the Court when presiding at any trial.

 

6. Nothing in these provisions contained shall authorize any referee to commit any person to prison or to enforce any order by attachment or otherwise, but the court may, in respect of matters before a referee, make any order of attachment or committal it may consider necessary.

 

7. (1) The report made by a referee in pursuance of a reference under these rules shall be made to the Court and notice thereof served on the parties to the reference.

(2) A referee may in his report submit any question arising therein for the decision of the court or make a special statement of facts from which the court may draw such inferences as it thinks fit.

(3) On the receipt of a referee’s report, the court may-
Adopt the report in whole or in part;
Vary the report;
Require an explanation from the referee;
Remit the whole or any part of the question or issue originally referred to him for further consideration by him or any other referee; or Decide the question or issue originally referred to him on the evidence taken before him, either with or without additional evidence.

(4) When the report of the referee has been made, an application to vary the report or remit the whole or any part of the question or issue originally referred may be made on the hearing by the Court or the further consideration of the cause or matter, after giving not less than four days notice thereof, and any other application with respect to the report may be made on that hearing without notice.

(5) Where on a reference under this Order the Court or a Judge in Chambers orders that the further consideration of the cause or matter in question shall not stand adjourned until the receipt of the referee’s report, the order may contain direction with respect to the proceedings on the receipt of the report and the foregoing provisions of the rule shall have effect subject to any such directions.

 

ORDER 13 – PARTIES GENERALLY

1. All persons may be joined in one action as plaintiffs in whom any right to relief is alleged to exist whether jointly or severally and judgment may be given for such plaintiff(s) as may be found to be entitled to relief and for such relief as he or they may be entitled to, without any amendment.

 

2. Where an action has been commenced in the name of the wrong person as plaintiff or where it is doubtful whether it has been commenced in the name of the right plaintiff, a Judge may order the substitution or addition of any other person as plaintiff on such terms as may be just.

 

3. Where in commencing an action any person has been wrongly or improperly included as a plaintiff and a defendant has set up a counterclaim or set-off .such defendant may establish his set-off or counter claim as against the parties other than a plaintiff so included, notwithstanding the inclusion of such plaintiff or any proceeding based thereon.

 

4. Any person may be joined as defendant against whom the right to any relief is alleged to exist, whether jointly, severally or in the alternative. Judgment may be given against one or more of the defendants as may be found to be liable, according to their respective liabilities, without any amendment.

 

5. Where an action has been instituted against a wrong defendant or where the name of a defendant has been incorrectly stated a Judge may upon application order a substitution or addition of any person as defendant or correction of any such name on any term as may be just.

 

6. (1) It shall not be necessary that every defendant shall be interested as to all the reliefs prayed for or as to every cause of action included in any proceeding against him.

(2) A Judge upon considering the defence filed by any defendant may on application by that defendant make such order as may appear just to prevent him from being embarrassed or put to expense by being required to attend any proceedings in which he may have not interest.

 

7. A plaintiff may at his option joint as parties to the same action all or any of the persons severally or jointly and severally, liable on any one contract, including parties to bills of exchange and promissory notes.

 

8. Where a plaintiff is in doubt as to the person from whom he is entitled to redress, he may, in such manner as hereinafter mentioned, or as may be scribed by any special order, join two or more defendants, to the intent that the question as to which, if any, of the defendants is liable and to what extent, may be determined as between all parties. Persons under legal disability may sue by their guardians or defend by guardians appointed for the purpose.

 

9. Where any person’s name is to be used in any action as guardian of a person under legal disability or other party or as relator, a written authority for that purpose signed by that person shall be filed in the registry.

 

10. Trustees, executors and administrators may sue and be sued on behalf of or as representing the property or estate of which they are trustees or representatives, without joining any of the persons beneficially interested in the trust or estate, and shall be considered as representing such person, but a Judge may, at any stage of the proceedings order any of such persons to be made parties in addition to or in lieu of the previously existing parties. This rule shall apply to trustees, executors and administrators in proceedings to enforce a security by foreclosure or otherwise.

 

12. (1) Where there are numerous persons having the same interest in one suit, one or more of such persons may sue or be sued on behalf of or
    for the benefit of all persons so interested.

(2) Where there are numerous persons having the same interest in one suit and they seek to defend the action, a Judge may allow one or more of such persons to defend the action on behalf or for the benefit of all persons so interested.

 

13. (1) Where in any proceedings concerning;
    (a) the administration of an estate; or
    (b) property subject to a trust; or
    (c) the construction of any written instrument, including a Statute, a Judge is satisfied that:
    The person, the class or some members of the class interested cannot be ascertained or cannot readily be ascertained;
    The person, the class or some members of the class interested if ascertained cannot be found;
    Though the person or the class and the members thereof can be ascertained and found; it is expedient for the purpose of efficient procedure that one or more persons be appointed to represent that person or class or member of the class, the Judge may make the appointment. The decision of the Judge in the proceedings shall be binding on the person or class of persons so represented.

(2) Notice of appointment made by a Judge under this rule and all processes filed in court shall be served on a person(s) so appointed.

(3) If in any proceeding mentioned in sub-rule 1 of the this Rule, several persons having the same interest in relation to the matter to be determined attend the hearing by separate Legal Practitioners, then unless the Judge considers that the circumstances justify separate representation, not more than one set of costs of the hearing shall be allowed to these persons, and the judgment or order shall be framed
accordingly.

(4) In this Rule, the word “class” includes the persons recognized by Customary Law as members of a family or as members of a land owing community.

 

14. Where in any proceedings mentioned in sub-rule (1) of Rule 13 of this Order, a compromise is proposed and some of the absent persons who are interested in or may be affected by the compromise are not parties to the proceedings (including unborn or unascertained persons) but where:
    (i) there are some other persons having the same interest before the court who assent to the compromise or on whose behalf the court sanctions the compromise or
    (ii) the absent persons are represented by a person under Rule 13 of this Order who so assents; a Judge if satisfied that the compromise will be for the benefit of the absent persons and that it is expedient to exercise this power, may approve the compromise and order that such compromise shall be binding on the absent persons, and they shall be bound accordingly, except where the order has been obtained by fraud or non-disclose of materials facts.

 

15. (1) If in any proceedings it appears to a Judge that any deceased person who was interested in the proceedings has no legal personal representative, the Judge may proceed in the absence of any person representing the estate of the deceased person, or may appoint some person to represent his estate for the purpose of the proceeding, on such notice to such persons (if any) as the Judge shall deem fit, either specially or general by public advertisement and the order so made and any order consequent thereon shall bind the estate of the deceased person in the same manner in every respect as if a duly constituted legal personal representative of the deceased had been a party to the proceedings.

(2) Where a sole or sole surviving plaintiff or defendant in a proceedings dies and the cause of action survives but the person entitled to proceed fails to proceed, a Judge may on the application of either the deceased’s Legal Practitioner or the opposing party order any person to take the place of the said deceased and proceed with the suit.

(3) In default of such application or where the person substituted fails to proceed, judgment may be entered for the defendant or as the case may be for the person against whom the proceedings might have been continued.

 

16. (1) No proceedings shall be defeated by reason of misjoinder or nonjoinder of parties, and a judge may deal with the matter in controversy so far as regards the rights and interest of the parties actually before him.

(2) A Judge may at any stage of the proceedings, either upon or without the application of either party, and on such terms as may appear to the Judge o be just, order that the names of any parties improperly joined be struck out.

3) A Judge may order that the names of any party who ought to have been joined or whose presence before the court is necessary to effectually and completely adjudicate upon and settle the questions involve in the proceedings be added.

(4) No person under legal disability shall be added as a plaintiff suing without a guardian and no person shall be added as the guardian of a plaintiff under legal disability without his own consent in writing.

(5) Every party whose name is added as defendant shall be served with the originating processes or notice in the manner prescribed in these rules or in such manner as may be prescribed by a Judge and the proceedings against such persons shall be deemed to have begun on the service of such originating processes or notice.

 

17. (1) Any application to add or strike out or substitute or vary the name of a plaintiff or defendant may be made to a Judge by motion.

(2) Where the application is to add a plaintiff or a defendant, the application shall be companied by the statement of claim or defence as the case may be, all the exhibits intended to be used and the depositions of all the witnesses:
Provided that where the application is to substitute a deceased party with another person the application may not be accompanied by the documents specified above.

 

18. Where a defendant is added or substituted, the originating process shall be amended accordingly and the plaintiff shall unless otherwise ordered by a Judge file an amended originating process and cause the new defendant to be served in the same manner as the original defendant.

 

19. (1) Where it appears to a Judge that any person not a party in the proceedings may bear eventual liability either in whole or in part, the Judge may upon an ex-parte application allow that person to be joined as a Third Party by any of the defendants. The application shall state the grounds for the applicant’s belief that such Third Party may eventually bear liability.

(2) The order and existing processes shall be served on the Third Party within the time prescribed for delivering the defence.

 

20. Where a party is joined to any proceeding as a Third Party he may after service enter appearance within 8 days or within 30 days if he resides or carries on business outside jurisdiction or within such further time as a Judge may order.

 

21. If a Third Party duly served with the order and all existing processes does not enter an appearance or makes default in filing any pleading, he shall be deemed to admit the validity of and shall be bound by any judgment given in the action, whether by consent or otherwise.

 

22. A party joined as Third Party in any proceedings may join any other party in the same manner as he was joined and the expression “Third Party” shall apply to and include every person so joined.

 

23. A defendant may in his pleading make a claim against a codefendant.

 

24. II. Actions against Firms and Persons carrying on Business in names other than their own.
25. Any two or more persons claiming or alleged to be liable as partners and doing business within the jurisdiction may sue or be sued in the name of the firms, if any, of which they were partners when the cause of action arose and any party to an action may in such case apply to the Judge for a statement of the names and addresses of the persons who were partners in the firm when the cause of action arose, to be furnished in such manner, and verified on oath or otherwise as the Judge may direct.

 

25. (1) When an originating process is issued by partners in the name of their firm, the plaintiffs or their Legal Practitioners shall, on demand in writing by or on behalf of any defendant declare in writing the names and residential addresses of all the persons constituting the firm on whose behalf the action is brought.

(2) Where the plaintiffs or their Legal Practitioners fail to comply with such demand, all proceedings in the action may, upon an application for that purpose, be stayed upon such terms as Judge may direct.

(3) Where the names of the parties are so declared, the suit shall proceed in the same manner and the same consequences, in all respect shall follows as if they had been named as plaintiffs in the originating process provided that the proceedings may continue in the name of the firm.

 

26. (1) Where persons are sued as partners in the name of their firm, they shall appear individually in their own names; but all subsequent proceedings shall continue in the name of the firm.

(2) Where an originating process is served upon a person having the control or management of the partnership business, no appearance by him shall be necessary unless he is a member of the firm sued.

 

27. The above rules in this Part shall apply to proceedings between a firm and one or more its partners and between firms having one or more partners in common, provided such firm or firms carry on business within the jurisdiction.

 

28. Any person carrying on business within the jurisdiction in a name or style other than his own name may be sued in such name or style as if it were a firm name, and, so far as the nature of the case will permit, all rules relating to proceedings against firms shall apply.

 

29. III. Change of Parties by Death or Otherwise ,etc
30. No proceeding shall abate by reason of death or bankruptcy of any of the parties, if the case of action survives and shall not become defective by the assignment, creation or devolution of any estate or title pendent lite, and, whether the cause or action survives or not, there shall be no abatement by reason of the death of either party between the finding on issues of fact and judgment, but judgment may in such case be entered notwithstanding thee death.

 

30. (1) Where by reason of death or bankruptcy, or any other event occurring after the commencement of a proceeding ad causing a change or transmission of interest or liability, or by reason of any person interested coming into existence after the commencement of the proceeding, it becomes necessary or desirable that any person not already a party should be made a party or that any person already a party should be made a party in another capacity, an order that the proceedings shall be carried on between the continuing parties and such new party or parties may b obtained ex parte upon an allegation of such change, or transmission of interest or liability, or of any such person interest having come into existence.

(2) An order obtained under this rule shall be served upon the continuing part or parties, or their Legal Practitioner(s) and also upon such new party unless the person making the application is the new party.

(3) Every person served who is not already a party to the proceedings shall where applicable enter an appearance thereto within the same time and in the same manner as if he had been served with the originating process. He shall thereupon be served with the originating and all existing processes.

(4) Any party served under this rule who was not already a part to the proceedings shall file his pleadings and other documents as if he had been an original party in the proceedings.

 

31. In case of an assignment, creation or devolution of any estate or title pendente lite, the cause or matter may be continued by or against the person to or upon whom such estate or title has come or devolved.

 

32. Where any person who is under no legal disability or being under any legal disability but having a guardian in the proceedings is served with an order under Rule 30 such person may apply to a Judge to discharge or vary such order at any time within 14 days from the service of the order.

 

33. Where any person under any legal disability and not having a guardian in the proceedings is served with an order under Rule 30, such a person may apply to a Judge to discharge or vary such order at anytime within 14 days from the appointment of a guardian for such party, and until such period of 14 days has expired, such order shall have no force or effect as against the person under legal disability.

 

34. IV Legal Practitioner or Agents
35. Whereby these rules any act may be done by any party in any proceedings, such act may be done either by the party in person, or by his Legal Practitioner, or by his agent (unless an agent is expressly barred under these rules).

 

 

ORDER 14 – CAUSES OF ACTION

1. (1) Subject to rule3, a plaintiff may in one action claim relief against the same defendant in respect of two or more causes of action- If the plaintiff claims, and the defendant is alleged to be liable, in the same capacity in respect of all the causes of action ; or If the plaintiff claims, or the defendant is alleged to be liable, in the capacity of executor or administrator of an estate in respect of one or reference to the same estate in respect of the other or others; or with leave of court.

(2) An application for leave under this rule shall be made exparte by motion before the writ or originating summons, as the case may be, is issued and the affidavit in support of the motion shall state the grounds of the application.

 

2. (1) Subject to rule 2(2), a defendant in any action who alleges that he has any claim or is entitled to any relief or remedy against the plaintiff in the action in respect of any matter (whenever and however arising) may, instead of bringing a separate action, make a counterclaim in respect of that matter and where he does so he shall add the counter-claim to his defence.

(2) Rule 1 shall apply in relation of a counter-claim as if the Counterclaim were separate action and as if the person making the counterclaim were a plaintiff and the person against whom it is made a defendant.

3. (1) If claims in respect of two or more causes of action are included by a plaintiff in the same action or by a defendant in a counter claim, or if two or more plaintiffs or defendants are parties to the same action, and it appears to the court that the joinder of such causes of action or of parties, as the case may be may embarrass or delay the trial or is otherwise inconvenient, the court may order separate trials or make such other order as may be expedient.

(2) If it appears on the application of any party against whom a counterclaim is made that the subject matter of the counter-claim ought for any reason to be disposed of by a separate action, the court may order it to be tried separate or make such other order as may be expedient.

4. (1) An action for recovery f land may be joined with an action for declaration of Tile, mesne profit or arrears of rent, damages for breach of any contract under which the land or any part thereof is held, or for a wrong or injury to the premises.

(2) An action for foreclosure or redemption may be joined with a claim for delivery of possession of the mortgage property and a claim for payment of principal money or interest secured by or any other relief in respect of the mortgage of or charge on such land.

ORDER 15 – PLEADINGS

1. (1) A statement of claim shall include the relief or remedy to which a claimant claims to be entitled.

(2) A defendant shall file his statement of defence, set-off or counter claim, if any, not later than 42 days after service on him of the claimant’s originating process and accompanying documents. A counterclaim shall have the same effect as a cross action, so as to enable the court pronounce a final judgment in the same proceedings. A set-off must be specifically pleaded.

(3) A claimant shall within 14 days of service of the statement of defence and counterclaim if any; file his reply, if any, to such defence or counter-claim.

Provided that where a defendant sets up a counter-claim, if a claimant or any other person named as party to such counter claim contends that the claim thereby raised ought not to be disposed of by way of counterclaim, but in an independent proceeding, a Judge may at any time order that such counter-claim be excluded.

 

2. Every pleading shall contain a statement in a summary form of the material facts on which the party pleading relies for his claim or defence, as the case may be, but not the evidence by which they are to be proved and shall, when necessary be divided into paragraphs numbered consecutively. Dates, sums and numbers shall be expressed in figures. Pleadings shall be signed by a Legal Practitioner or by the party if he sues or defends in person.

 

3. (1) In all cases in which the party pleading relies on any misrepresentation, fraud, breach of trust, willful default or undue influence and in all other cases, in which particulars may be necessary, particulars (with dates and items if necessary) shall be stated in the pleadings.

(2) In an action for libel or slander if the claimant alleges that the words or matter complained of were used in a defamatory sense other than their ordinary meaning, he shall give particulars of the facts and matters on which he relies in support of his allegation.

 

4. An application for a further and better statement of the nature of the claim or defence, or further and better particulars of any matter stated in any pleading requiring particulars shall be made to a Judge at the first pre-trial conference. The judge may grant such application upon such terms as may be just.

 

5. (1) Every allegation of fact in any pleadings if not specifically denied in the pleadings of the opposite party shall be taken as admitted except as against a person under legal disability.

(2) A general denial in any pleadings shall not operate as denial of any specific fact in the pleadings of the opposing party.

 

6. Each part shall specify distinctly in his pleadings any condition precedent the performance or concurrence of which is intended to be contested.

 

7. (1) All grounds of defence or reply which makes an action reply, not maintainable or if not raised will take the opposite party by surprise or will raise issues of facts not arising out of the preceding to be pleadings shall be specifically pleaded.

(2) Where a party raises any ground which makes a transaction void or voidable or such matters as fraud, Limitation Law, release, payment, performance, fact showing insufficiency in contract or illegality either by any enactment or by common law, he shall specifically plead same.

 

8. No pleading shall raise any new ground of claim or contain any allegation of fact inconsistent with the previous pleadings of the party pleading the same.

 

9. A party may by his pleadings join issues upon the pleadings of the opposing party and such joinder of issues shall operate as a denial of every material allegation of fact in the pleading upon which issue is joined except any fact which the party may be willing to admit.

 

10. Wherever the contents of any documents are material it shall be sufficient in any pleading to state the effect thereof s briefly as possible, without setting out the whole or any part thereof, unless the precise words of the document or any part thereof are material.

 

11. Wherever it is material to allege notice to any person of any fact, matter or thing, it shall be sufficient to allege such notice as a fact, unless the form or the precise terms of such notice or the circumstances from which such notice is to be inferred are material.

 

12. Wherever any contract or any relation between any persons is to be implied from a series of letters or conversations, or otherwise from a number of circumstances, it shall be sufficient to allege such contract or relation as a fact, and or refer generally to such letters, conversations or circumstances without setting them out in detail. If in such case the person so pleading desires to rely in the alternative upon more contracts or relations than one as to be implied from such circumstances, he may state the same in the alternative.

 

13. A party may not allege in any pleadings any matter or fact the law presumes in his favour or as to which the burden of proof lies upon the other side, unless the same has first been specifically denied.

 

14. In every case in which the cause of action is a stated or settled account the same shall be alleged with particulars but in every case in which a statement of account is relied on by way of evidence or admission of any other cause of action which is pleaded, the same shall not be alleged in the pleadings.

 

15. No technical objection shall be raised to any pleading on the ground of any alleged want of form.

A Judge may at the pre-trial conference in any proceedings order to be struck out or amended, any matter in any endorsement or pleading which may be unnecessary or scandalous or which may tend to prejudice, embarrass or delay the fair trial of the action; and may in any such case, if the Judge shall deem fit, order costs of the application to be paid as between Legal Practitioner and client.

 

16. A Judge may at the pre-trial conference in any proceedings order to be struck out or amended, any matter in any endorsement or pleading which may be unnecessary or scandalous or which may tend to prejudice, embarrass or delay the fair trial of the action; and may in any such case, if the Judge shall deem fit, order costs of the application to be paid as between Legal Practitioner and client.

 

17. (1) Wherever it is material to allege malice, fraudulent intention, knowledge or other condition of the mind of any person, it shall be sufficient to allege the same as a fact without setting out the circumstances from which the same to be inferred.

(2) Where in an action for libel or slander the defendant pleads that any of the words or matters complained of are fair comment on a matter of public interest or were published upon a privileged occasion, the claimant shall, if he intends to allege that the defendant was actuated by express malice, deliver a reply giving particulars of the facts and matters from which such malice is to be inferred.

(3) Where in an action for libel or slander the defendant alleges that in so far as the words complained of consist of statement of fact, they are true in substance and in fact, and in so far as they consist of expressions of opinion, they are fair comment on a matter of public interest, or pleads to the like effect, he shall give particulars stating which of the facts and matters he relies on in support of the allegation that the words are true.

 

18. (1) The Judge may at any stage of the proceedings order to be struck out or amended any pleading or the endorsement of any writ in the action, or anything in any pleading or in the endorsement, on the ground that:
    (a) it disclose no reasonable cause of action or defence, as the case may be; or
    (b) it is scandalous, frivolous or vexatious; or
    (c) it may prejudice, embarrass or delay the fair trial of the action; or
    (d) it is otherwise an abuse of the process of the court.
    and may order the ac6tion to be stayed or dismissed or judgment to be entered accordingly, as the case may be.

(2) No evidence shall be admissible on application under paragraph (1) (a).

(3) This rule shall, so far as application, apply to an originating summons and a petition as if the summons or petitions, as the case may be, were a pleading.

(4) No proceedings shall be open to objection on the ground that only a declaratory judgment or order is sought thereby and a Judge may make a binding declaration of right whether any consequential relief is or could be claimed or not.

 

19. (1) Where a pleading subsequent to reply is not ordered, then, at the expiration of 7 days from the service of the defence or reply (if a reply) has been filed, pleadings shall be deemed close.

(2) Where a pleading subsequent to reply is ordered, and the party who has been ordered or given leave to file the same fails to do so within the period limited for that purpose, then, at the expiration of the period also limited the pleadings shall be deemed closed:

Provided that this rule shall not apply to a defence to counterclaim and unless the claimant files a defence to counterclaim, the statements of fact contained in such counterclaim shall at the expiration of 114 days from the service thereof or of such time (if any) as may by order be allowed for filing of a defence thereto be deemed to be admitted, but the Judge may at any subsequent time give leave to the claimant to file a defence to counterclaim.

 

 

ORDER 16 – STATEMENT OF CLAIM

1. (1) Every statement of claim, defence or counter claim shall state specifically the relief claimed either singly or in the alternative, and it shall not be necessary to ask for general or other relief, which may be given as a Judge may think just as if it had been asked for.

(2) Where the claimant seeks relief in respect of several distinct claims or causes of complaint founded upon separate and distinct grounds, they shall be stated, as far as may be , separately and distinctly. The same rule shall apply where the defendant relies upon several distinct grounds of defence, set-off or counterclaim founded upon separate and distinct fact. Where a statement of claim is filed, the claimant may alter, modify or extend his claim without any amendment of the endorsement of the writ:
Provided that the claimant may not completely change his cause of action endorsed on the writ without amending the writ.

 

ORDER 17 – DEFENCE AND COUNTER-CLAIMS

1. The statement of defence shall be a statement in summary form and shall be supported by copies of documentary evidence, list of witnesses and their
   written statements on oath.

 

2. When a party in any pleading denies an allegation of fact in the previous pleading of the opposite party, he shall not do so evasively, but answer he point of substance. If an allegation is made with diverse circumstances, it shall not be sufficient to deny it along with those circumstances.
3. (1) In an action for debt or liquidated demand in money, a mere denial of the debt shall not be sufficient defence.

(2) In an action for money had and received, a defence in denial must deny the receipt of the money or the existence of those facts which are alleged to make such receipt by the defendant a receipt to the use of the claimant.

(3) In an action for goods sold and delivered, the defence must deny the order or contract, the delivery, or the amount claimed.

(4) In an action upon a bill of exchange, promissory note or cheque, a defence in denial must deny some matter of fact, e.g. the drawing, making, endorsing, accepting, presenting or notice of dishonor of the bill or note.

4. If either party wishes to deny the right of any other party to claim as executor or a trustee or in any representative or other alleged capacity, or the alleged constitution of any partnership firm, he shall deny the same specifically.

 

5. No denial or defence shall be necessary as to damages claimed or their amount; they are deemed to be in issue in all cases, unless expressly admitted.

 

6. Where any defendant seeks to rely upon any ground as supporting a right of set-off or counter claim, he shall in his defence state specifically that he
   does so by way of supporting a right of set-off or counterclaim.

7. Where a defendant by his defence sets up and counter-claim which raises questions between himself and the claimant along with any other persons, he shall add to the title of his defence a further title similar to the title in a statement of claim, setting forth the names of all persons who, if such counterclaim were to be enforced by cross action, would be defendants to such cross actions, and shall deliver his defence to such of them as are parties to the action within the period which he is required to deliver it to the claimant.

8. Where any such person as in Rule 7 of this Order is not a party to the action he shall be summoned to appear by being served with a copy of the defence and counterclaim, and such service shall be regulated by the same rules as those governing the service of the originating process, and every defence and counter claim so served shall be endorsed in Form 12 with such modifications or variations as circumstances may require.

9. Any person not already a party to the action, who is served with a defence and counterclaim as aforesaid, must appear thereto as if he had been served with an originating process to appear in an action.

10. Any person not already a party to the action, who is named in a defence as a party to a counter claim thereby made, shall; deliver a defence in a mode
    and manner prescribed under this Order and the provisions of the Order shall apply to such a person.

11. If, in any case in which the defendant sets up a counter-claim, the action of the claimant is stayed, discontinued or dismissed, the counterclaim may nevertheless be preceded with.

12. Where in an action, a set off or counterclaim is established as a defence against the claimant’s claim the Judge may, if the balance is in favour of the defendant, give judgment for the defendant for such balance, or may otherwise adjudge top the defendant such relief as he may be entitled to upon the merits of the case.

13. (1) Any ground of defence which arises after the action has been filed, but before the defendant has delivered his defence, and before the time limited for doing so has expired, may be raised by the defendant in his defence, either alone or together with other grounds of defence.

(2) If after a defence has been delivered along with a set-off or Counterclaim, any basis for answer or ground of defence arises to any such set-off or counterclaim respectively, it may be raised by the claimant in his reply (in the case of a set-off)or defence to counterclaim, either alone or together with any other ground of reply or defence to counterclaim.

14. Where any ground of defence arises after the defendant has delivered a defence, or after the time limited for his doing so has expired the defendant may, and where any ground of defence to any set-off or counterclaim arises after reply, or after the time limited for delivery of a reply has expired, the claimant may, within 8 days after such ground of defence has arisen or at any subsequently time by leave of a judge deliver a further defence or further reply as the case may be setting forth the same.

15. Whenever any defendant in his defence or in any further defence pursuant to Rule 14 of this Order alleges any ground of defence which has arisen after the commencement of the action, the claimant may concede to such defence (which concession may be in Form 13 with such modification as circumstances may require) and may thereupon obtain judgment up to the time of the pleading of such defence, unless the Judge either before or after the delivery of such concession otherwise order.

16. A respondent to an originating summons shall file a counter affidavit together with all the exhibits he intends to rely upon and a written address within 21 days after service of the originating summons.

ORDER 18 – REPLY

1. Where the claimant desires to make a reply, he shall file it within 14 days from the service of the defence.

2. Where a counterclaim is pleaded, a reply thereto is called a defence to counterclaim and shall be subject to the rules applicable to defences.

ORDER 19 – ADMISSION

1. Any party to a proceeding may give notice by his pleading or otherwise in writing, that he admits the truth of the whole or of facts in any part of the case of any other party.

2. (1) Either party may, not later than 7 days before the first pre-trial conference, by notice in writing filed and served, require any other party to admit any document and the party so served shall not later than 4 days after service give notice of admission or non-admission of the document, failing which he shall be deemed to have admitted it unless a Judge otherwise orders.

(2) When a party decides to challenge the authenticity of any document, he shall not later than 7 days of service of that document give notice that he des not admit the document and requires it to be proved at the trial.

3. (1) Either party may not later than 7 days before the first pre-trial conference by notice in writing filed and served require any other party tom admit any specific fact or facts mentioned in the notice, and the party so served shall not later than 4 days after service give notice of admission or non-admission of the fact or facts failing which he shall be deemed to have admitted it unless a Judge otherwise orders.

(2) Any admission made pursuant to such notice shall be deemed to be made only for the purposes of that particular proceedings and not as an admission to be used against the party or any other party than the party giving the notice.

(3) Where there is a refusal or neglect to admit the same within 4 days after service of such notice or within such further time as may be allowed by the Judge, the cost of proving such fact or facts which shall not be less than a sum of five thousand naira, shall be paid by the party to refusing or neglecting whatever the result of the proceedings, unless the judge certifies that the refusal to admit was reasonable or unless the Judge at any time otherwise orders or directs. The Judge may, on application, at a pre-trial conference or at any stage of the proceedings where admissions of facts have been made, either on the pleadings or otherwise, make such orders or give such judgment as upon such admissions a party may be entitled to, without waiting for the determination of any other question between the parties. Where a notice to admit or produce comprises documents that are not necessary, the costs occasioned thereby which shall not be less than five thousand naira shall be borne by the party giving such notice.

 

ORDER 20 – DEFAULT OF PLEADINGS

1. If the claim is only for a debt or liquidated demand, and the defendant does not within the time allowed for the purpose, file a defence, the claimant may, at the expiration of such time, apply for final judgment for the amount claimed with costs.

2. When in any such action as in Rule 1 of this Order there are several defendants, if one of them makes default as mentioned in Rule 1 of this Order, the claimant may apply for final judgment against the defendants making default and issue execution upon such judgment without prejudice to his right to proceed with his action against the other defendants.

3. If the claimant’s claim be for pecuniary damages or for detention of goods with or without a claim for pecuniary damages only, and the defendant or all the defendants, if more than one, make default as mentioned in Rule 1 of this Order, the claimant may apply to a Judge for interlocutory judgment against the defendant or defendants and the value of the goods and the damages, or the damages only as the case may be, shall be ascertained in any way which the Judge may order.

4. When in any such action as in Rule 3 of this Order there are several defendants, if one or more of them make default as mentioned in Rule 1 of this Order, the claimant may apply to a Judge for interlocutory judgment against the defendant or defendants so making default and proceed with his action against the others. In such case the value and amount of damages against the defendant making default shall be assessed at the trial of the action or issues therein against the other defendants, unless the Judge shall otherwise order.

5. Where the claim is for debt or liquidated demand and also for pecuniary damages or for detention of goods with or without a claim for pecuniary damages and includes a liquidated demand and any defendant makes default as mentioned in Rule 1, the claimant may apply to a Judge for final judgment for the debt or liquidated demand, and may also apply for interlocutory judgment for the value of the goods and damages, or the damages only as the case may be, and proceed as mentioned in Rules 3 and 4.

6. In an action for the recovery of land, if the defendant makes default as mentioned in Rule 1, the claimant may apply for a judgment that the person whose title is asserted in the writ of summons shall recover possession of the land with his costs.

 

7. Where the claimant has endorsed a claim for mesne profits arrears of rent in respect of the premises claimed, or any part of profits, or damages for breach of contract or wrong or injury to the premises claimed upon a writ for the recovery of land, if the defendant makes default as mentioned in Rule 1, or if there be more than one defendant, some or one of the defendants make such default, the claimant may apply for final judgment against the defaulting defendant or defendants and proceed as mentioned in Rules 3 and 4.

 

8. If the claimant’s claim is for a debt or liquidated demand or for pecuniary damages only, or for detention of goods with or without a claim for pecuniary damages, or for any such matters, or for the recovery of land, and the defendant files a defence which purports to offer an answer to part only of the claimant’s alleged cause of action, the claimant may apply for judgment, final or interlocutory, as the case may befor the part unanswered.

 

9. In all actions other than those in the preceding rules of this Order, if the defendant makes default in filing a defence, the claimant may apply to a Judge for judgment, and such judgment shall be given upon the statement of claim as the Judge shall consider the claimant to be entitle to.

 

10. Where in any such action as mentioned in Rule 9 of this order, there are several defendants, if one of such defendants makes such default as aforesaid, the claimant may apply for judgment against the defendant so making default, and proceed against the other defendants.

 

11. In any case in which issues arise in a proceeding other than between claimant and defendant, if any party to any such issue makes default in filing any pleading, the opposite party may apply to a Judge for such judgment, if any, as upon the pleadings he may appear to be entitled to, and the Judge may order judgment to be entered accordingly or may make such other order as may be necessary to do justice between the parties.

 

12. Any judgment by default whether under this Order or under any Order of these Rules shall be final and remain valid and may only be set aside upon application to the Judge on grounds of fraud, nonservice or lack of jurisdiction, upon such terms as the court may deem fit.

 

ORDER 21 – PAYMENT INTO AND OUT OF COURT

1. (1) Where after service in any proceeding for debt or damages, a defendant envisages an intention to pay money into court in respect of the proceeding, he shall notify the Chief Registrar who will thereupon direct him to pay the money into an interest yielding account in a commercial bank and he shall file the teller for such payment with the Chief Registrar.

(2) Where a letter of payment is filed with the Chief Registrar, he shall forthwith give notice of the payment to the claimant who may apply to a Judge for an order to withdraw the amount so paid.

(3) Where a defence of tender before action is set up, the sum of money alleged to have been tendered shall be brought into Court.

(4) The defendant may without leave give a written notice to the Registrar of an intention to increase the amount of any sum paid into Court.

(5) Where the money is paid into Court in satisfaction of one or more of several causes of action, the notice shall specify the cause of action in respect of which payment is made and the sum paid in respect of each such cause of action unless a Judge otherwise directs.

(6) The notice shall be in Form 14 with such modification or variations as circumstances may require. The receipt of the notice shall be acknowledged in writing by the claimant within 3 days. The notice may be modified or withdrawn or delivered in an amended form by leave of a Judge upon such terms as may be just.

(7) Where money is paid into court with denial of liability, the claimant may proceed with the action in respect of the claim and if he succeeds, the amount paid shall be applied so far as is necessary in satisfaction of the claim, and the balance, if any, shall on the order of a Judge be repaid to the defendant. Where the defendant succeeds in respect of such claim, the whole amount paid into Court shall be repaid to him on the order of a Judge.

 

2. (1) Where money is paid into Court under Rule 1, the claimant may within 14 days of the receipt of the notice of payment into Court, or where more than one payment into Court has been made, within 14 days of the receipt of the notice of the last payment into Court, accept the whole sum or any one or more of the specific sum in satisfaction of the causes of action to which the specified sum or sums relate by giving notice to the defendant in Form 15 with such modifications or variations as circumstances may require and thereupon shall be entitled to receive payment of the accepted sum or sums in satisfaction as aforesaid.

(2) Payment shall be made to the claimant or on his written authority to his Legal Practitioner and thereupon proceedings in the action or in respect of the specified case or causes of action (as the case may be) shall abate.

(3) If the claimant accepts money paid into court in satisfaction of his claim, or if he accepts a sum or sums paid in respect of one or more specified causes of action, and gives notice that he abandons the other causes of action, he may after 4 days from payment out and unless a Judge otherwise orders, tax his costs incurred to the time of payment into court, and 48 hours after taxation may sign judgment for his taxed costs.

(4) Where in an action for libel or slander, the claimant accepts money paid into court, either party may apply by summons to a Judge for leave for the parties or either of them to make a statement in open court in terms approved by the Judge.

 

3. If the whole of the money in court is not taken out under Rule 2, the money remaining in court shall be paid out except in satisfaction of the claim or specified cause or causes of action in respect of which it was paid in pursuance of an order of a Judge which may be made at any time before, at or after trial.

 

4. (1) Money may be paid into court under Rule 1 of this Order by one or more of several defendants sued jointly or in the alternative upon notice to the other defendant or defendants.

(2) If the claimant elects within 14 days after receipt of notice of payment into court to accept the sum or sums paid into court, he shall give notice as in Form 16 with such modifications or variations as circumstances may require to each defendant and thereupon all further proceedings in the action or in respect of the specified cause or causes of action (as the case may be) shall abate.

(3) The money shall not be paid out except in pursuance of an order of a Judge dealing with the whole cause or causes of action.

(4) In an action for libel or slander against several defendants sued jointly, if any defendant pays money into court, the claimant may within 14 days elect to accept the sum paid into court in satisfaction of his claim against the defendant making the payment and shall give notice to all the defendants as in Form 15 with such modifications or variations as circumstances may require. The claimant may tax his cost against the defendant who has made such payment in accordance with Rule 2(3) of this Order and the action shall abate against that defendant.

(5) The claimant may continue with the action against any other defendant but the sum paid into court shall be set off against any damages awarded to the claimant against the defendant or defendants against whom the action is continued.

 

5. A person made a defendant to a counterclaim may pay money into court in accordance with the foregoing rules, with necessary modification.

 

6. (1) In any proceeding in which money or damages is or are claim by or on behalf of a person under legal disability suing either alone or in conjunction with other parties, no settlement or compromise or payment or acceptance of money paid into curt, whether before, at or after the trial, shall as regards the claims of any such person be valid without the approval of a Judge.

(2) No money (which expression for purpose of this Rule includes damages) in any way recovered or adjudged or ordered or awarded or agreed to be paid in any proceedings in respect of the claims of any such person under legal disability whether by judgment, settlement, compromise, payment into court or otherwise, before, at or after the trail, shall be paid to the claimant or to the guardian of the claimant or to the claimant’s Legal Practitioner unless a Judge shall so direct.

(3) All money so recovered or adjudged or ordered or awarded or agreed to be paid shall be dealt with as the Judge shall direct. The directions thus given may include any general or special directions that the Judge may deem fit to give, including directions on how the money is to be applied or dealt with and as to any payment to be made either directly or our of money paid into court to the claimant or to the guardian in respect of moneys paid or expenses incurred or for maintenance or otherwise for or a on behalf of or for the benefit of the person under legal disability or otherwise or to the plaintiff’s Legal Practitioner in respect of costs or of the difference between party and party and Legal Practitioner and client costs.

 

7. Every application or notice for payment into or transfer out of Court shall be made on notice to the other side.

 

ORDER 22 – PROCEEDINGS IN LIEU OF DEMURRER

No demurrer shall be allowed

1. (1) Any party may by his pleading raise any point of law and the Judge may dispose of the point so raised before or at the trial.

(2) If in the opinion of the Judge, the decision on such point of law substantially disposes of the whole proceedings or of any distinct part thereof, the Judge may make such decision as may be just.

 

ORDER 23 – DISCONTINUANCE

1. (1) The Plaintiff may at any time before receipt of the defence or after the receipt thereof, before taking any other proceeding in the action, by notice in writing duly filed and served, wholly discontinue his claim against all or any of the defendants or withdraw any part or parts of his claim. He shall thereupon pay such defendant’s costs of the action, or if the action be not wholly discontinued, the costs occasioned by the matter so withdrawn.

(2) A discontinuance or withdrawal as the case may be, shall not be a defence to any subsequent claim.

(3) Where a defence has been filed, the plaintiff may with the leave of a Judge discontinue the proceedings or any part thereof on such terms and conditions as the Judge may order.

(4) Where proceedings have been stayed or struck out upon a plaintiff’s withdrawal or discontinuance under this Order no subsequent claim shall be filed by him on the same or substantially the same facts until the terms imposed on him by the Judge have been fully complied with.

(5) The Judge may in like manner and like discretion as to terms, upon the application of a defendant order the whole or any part of his alleged grounds of defence or counter claim to be withdrawn or struck out.

(6) If all the parties to an action consent, the action may be withdrawn without leave of the court at any time before trial by producing to the Registrar a written consent to the action being withdrawn, signed by all the parties, and the action shall thereafter be struck out.

 

2. When a cause is ready for trial, it may be withdrawn by either plaintiff or defendant upon producing to the Registrar consent in writing signed by the parties and thereupon a Judge shall strike out the matter without the necessity of attendance of the parties or their Legal Practitioner.

 

ORDER 24 – AMENDMENT

1. A party may amend his originating process and pleadings at any time before the close of pre-trial conference and not more than twice during the trial but before the close of the case.

 

2. Application to amend may be made to a Judge. Such application shall be supported by an exhibit of the proposed amendment and may be allowed upon such terms as to costs or otherwise as may be just.

 

3. Where any originating process and or a pleading is to be amended a list of any additional witness to be called together with his written statement on oath and a copy of any document to be relied upon consequent on such amendment shall be filed with the application.

 

4. If a party who has obtained an order to amend does not amend accordingly within the time limited for that purpose by the order, or if no time is thereby limited, then within 7 days from the date of the order, such party shall pay an additional fee N100.00 (one hundred naira) for each day of default.

 

5. Wherever any originating process or pleading is amended, a copy of the document as mended shall be filed in the Registrar and additional copies served on all the parties to the action.

 

6. Wherever any endorsement or pleading in amended, it shall be marked in the following manner:

“ Amended……………………..day of……………………….pursuant to Order of (name of Judge) dated the……………………….day of…………………………………………..”

 

7. A judge may at any time correct clerical mistakes in judgments or orders, or errors arising therein from any accidental slip or omission upon application without an appeal being filed.

 

8. Subject to the provisions of Rule 1 of this Order, a Judge may at any time and on such terms as to costs or otherwise as may be just, amend any defence or error in any proceedings.

 

ORDER 25 – PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE AND SCHEDULING

1. (1) Within 14 days after close of pleadings, the plaintiff shall apply for the issuance of a pretrial conference Notice as in Form 17.

(2) Upon application by a plaintiff under sub-rule 1 above, the Judge shall cause to be issued to the parties and their Legal Practitioner (if any) a pre-trial conference notice as in Form 17 accompanied by a pre-trial information sheet as in Form 18 for the purposes set out hereunder. Disposal of matters which must or can be dealt with on interlocutory  application; Promoting amicable settlement of the case or adoption of alternative dispute resolution.

(3) If the Plaintiff does not make the application in accordance with subrule 1 of this rule, the defendant(s) may do so or apply for an order to dismiss the action

 

2. At the pre-trial conference, the Judge shall enter a scheduling Order for:
   a. Joining other parties;
   b. Amending pleadings or any other processes;
   c. Further pre-trial conference;
   d. Any other matters appropriate in the circumstances of the case.

 

3. At the pre-trial conference, the Judge shall consider and take appropriate action with respect of such of the following (or aspects of them) as may be necessary or desirable:
   a. Formulation and settlement of issues;
   b. Amendments and further and better particulars;
   c. he admissions of facts and other evidence by consent of the parties;
   d. Control and scheduling of discovery, inspection and production of documents;
   e. Narrowing the field of dispute between expert witnesses, by their participation at pre-trial conferences or in any other manner;
   f. Hearing and determination of objections on point of law;
   g. Giving orders or directions for separate trial of a claim, counter claim setoff.
   h. Settlement of issues, inquiries and accounts under Order 27;
   i. Securing statement of special case of law or facts under Order; 28;
   j. determining the form and substance of the pre-trial order;
   such other matters as may facilitate the just and speedy disposal of the action.

 

4. The pre-trial conference or series of pre-trial conferences with respect to any case shall be completed within 3 months of its commencement, and the parties and their Legal Practitioners shall cooperate with the Judge in working within this time table. As far as practicable, pre-trial conferences shall be held from day to day or adjourned only for purposes of compliance with pre-trial conference orders, unless extended by the Chief Judge.

 

5. After a pre-trial conference or series of pre-trial conferences, the Judge shall issue a Report. This Report shall guide the subsequent course of the proceedings unless modified by the trial Judge.

 

6. If a party or his Legal Practitioner fails to attend the pre-trial conference or obey a scheduling or pre-trial order or is substantially unprepared to participate in the conference or fails to participate in good faith the Judge shall:
   a. in the case of the plaintiff dismiss the claim;
   b. In the case of a defendant enter final judgment against him.

 

7. Any judgment given under this rule may be set aside upon an application made within 7 days of the judgment or such other period as the Pre-trial judge may allow not exceeding the pre-trial conference period. The application shall be accompanied by an undertaking to participate effectively in the pre-trial conference.

 

8. The Judge shall direct the pre-trial conference with due regards to its purposes and agenda as provided under this order, and shall require parties or their Legal Practitioners to cooperate with him effectively in dealing with the pre-trial conference agenda.

 

9. After a pre-trial conference or series of pre-trial conferences, the Judge shall set the suit don for trial in his court.

 

ORDER 26 – DISCOVERY AND INSPECTION

1. In any cause or matter the plaintiff or defendant may deliver interrogatories in writing for the examination of the opposite parties or any one or more of such parties and such interrogatories when delivered shall have a note at the end of it stating which of the interrogatories each person is required to answer. Interrogatories shall be delivered within 7 days of close of pleadings and shall form part of the agenda of pre-trial conference.

 

2. Interrogatories shall be in Form 19 with such modifications or variations as circumstances may require.

 

3. If any party to a cause or mater is a limited or unlimited company, body corporate, firm, enterprise, friendly society, association or any other body or group of persons, whether incorporated or not, empowered by law to sue or be sued, whether in its own name or in the name of any officer or other person, any opposite party may deliver interrogatories to any member or officer of such party.

 

4. Any objection to answering any one or more of several interrogatories on the ground that it is or they are scandalous or irrelevant may be taken in the affidavit in answer at the pre-trial conference.

 

5. Interrogatories shall be answered by affidavit to be filed within 7 days, or within such other time as the Judge may allow. Two copies of the affidavit in answer shall be supplied to the Registrar.

 

6. An affidavit in answer to interrogatories shall be in Form 20 with such modifications or variations as circumstances may require.

 

7. If any person interrogated omits to answer or answers insufficiently, the pre-trial Judge shall on application issue and order requiring him to answer or to answer further as the case maybe.

 

8. (1)) Any party may in writing request any other party to any cause or matter to make discovery on oath of the documents that are or have been in his possession, custody, power or control, relating to any matter in question in the case. Request for discovery shall be served within 7 days of close of pleadings and shall form part of the agenda of pre-trial; conference. The party on whom such a request it served shall answer on oath completely and truthfully within 7 days of the request or within such other time as the Judge may allow and it shall be dealt with at pre-trial conference.

(2) Every affidavit to be made by any person in answer to a request for discovery of documents shall be accompanied by office copies of documents referred to therein.

(3) The affidavit to be made by any person in answer to a request for discovery of documents shall specify which, if any, of the listed documents he objects to producing, stating the grounds of his objection, and it shall be in Form 21 with such modifications or variations as circumstances may require.

 

9. (1) Any process to be filed after the pre-trial conference shall be accompanied by copies documents referred to in the process.

(2) Where a process filed is not accompanied by a document referred to therein a Judge may on application strike out the process.

 

10. (1) Where any document required to be attached to any process or produced under this or any other rule is a business book, a Judge may upon application order a copy of any entry therein to be furnished and verified in an affidavit. Such affidavit shall be made by a person who keeps the book or under whose supervision the book is kept.

(2) Notwithstanding that a copy has been supplied a Judge may order inspection of the book from which the copy was made.

(3) The Judge may upon application whether or not an affidavit of document has been ordered or filed, make an order requiring any party to state by affidavit whether any particular document or any class of documents is or has at any time been in his possession, custody, power or control, when he parted with the same and what has become of it.

 

11. An order for interrogatories or discovery or inspection made against any party if served on his Legal Practitioners shall be sufficient service to found an application for attachment of a party for disobedience to the order.

 

12. A Legal Practitioner upon whom an order against any party for interrogatories or discovery or inspection is served under the last preceding Rule, who neglects without reasonable excuse to give notice thereof to his client shall be liable to attachment.

 

13. Any party may, at the trial of a cause, matter or issue, use in evidence any one or more of the answers or any part of an answer of the opposite party to interrogatories without putting in the others or the whole of such answer:

Provided that the Judge may look at the whole of the answers and order that any of them may be put in.

 

14. In any action against or by a Sheriff in respect of any matters connected with the execution of his office, a Judge may, on application of either party order that the affidavit to be made in answer either to interrogatories or to any order for discovery shall be made by the officer actually concerned.

 

15. This order shall apply to persons under legal disability and their guardians.

 

 

ORDER 27 – ISSUES, INQUIRIES, ACCOUNTS AND REFERENCES TO REFEREES

1. In all proceedings, issues of law and facts in dispute shall be defined by each party and filed within 7 days after close of pleadings.

 

2. In any legal proceedings the Judge may at any time order the whole cause or matter or any question or issue of facts arising therein, to be tried before an official referee or officer of the court, notwithstanding that it may appear that there is a special or other relief sought or some special issue to be tried, as to which it may be proper that the cause or matter should proceed in the ordinary manner.

 

3. In any case in which a matter is referred to a referee the Court shall furnish the referee with such part of the proceedings and such information and detailed instructions as may appear necessary for his guidance, and shall direct the parties if necessary to attend upon the referee during the inquiry.

 

4. The referee may, subject to the order of the Judge, hold the inquiry at or adjourn it to any place which he may deem most expedient, and have any inspection or view which he may deem expedient for the disposal of the controversy before him. He shall, so far as practicable, proceed with the inquiry from day to day.

 

5. (1) Subject to any order made by the Judge ordering the inquiry, evidence shall be taken at any inquiry before a referee, and the attendance of witnesses to give evidence before a referee may be enforced by the Judge in the same manner as such attendance may be enforced before the court, and every such inquiry shall be
   conducted in the same manner or as nearly as circumstances will admit as trials before a Court.

(2) The referee shall have the same authority in the conduct of any inquiry as a Judge when presiding at any trial.

(3) Nothing in these rules shall authorize any referee to commit any person to prison or to enforce any order by attachment or otherwise;
but the Judge may, in respect of matters before a referee, make such order of attachment or commitment as he may consider necessary.

 

6. (1) The report made by a referee in pursuance of a reference under this order shall be made to the Judge and notice thereof serviced on the parties to the reference.

(2) A referee may be in his report submit any question arising therein for the decision of the Judge or make a special statement of facts from which the judge may draw such inferences as he deems fit.

(3) On the receipt of a referee’s report, the Judge may-
(a) adopt the report in whole or in part;
(b) vary the report;
(c) require an explanation from him;
(d) remit the whole or any part of the question or issue original referred to him for further consideration by him or and other referee
(e) decide the question or issue originally referred to him on the evidence taken before him, either with or without additional evidence.

(4) When the report of the referee has been made, an application to vary the report or remit the whole or any part of the question or issue originally referred may be made on the hearing by the Judge for the further consideration of the cause or matter, after giving not less than 4 days notice thereof and any other application with respect to the report may be made on that hearing without notice.

(5) Where on reference under this order a Judge Orders that the further consideration of the cause or matter in question shall not stand adjourned until the receipt of the referee’s report, the order may contain direction with respect to the proceedings on the receipt of the report and the foregoing provisions of this rule shall have effect subject to any such directions.

 

7. The Judge may order or direct an account to be taken or by any subsequent order give special direction with regard to the more in which the account is to be taken or vouched and in particular may direct that in taking the account, the books of accounts in which the accounts in question have been kept shall be taken as prima facie evidence of the truth of their contents with liberty to the interested parties to object.

 

8. Where any account is directed to be taken, the accounting party shall make out his account and verify the same by affidavit. The items on each side of the account shall be numbered consecutively, and the account shall be referred to by the affidavit as an exhibit and left in the Registry.

 

9. Upon the taking of any account the Judge may direct that the voucher be produced at the chambers of the accounting party’s Legal Practitioner or at any other convenient place and that only such items as may be contested or surcharged shall be brought before the Judge.

 

10. Any party seeking to charge any accounting party beyond what he has by his account admitted to have received shall give notice to the accounting party stating so far as he is able, the amount sought to be charged with particulars.

 

11. Whereby any judgment or order any accounts are directed to be taken or inquiries to be made, each such direction shall be numbered so that as far as may be, each distinct account and inquiry may be designated by a number and such judgment or order shall be in Form 22 with such modifications or variations as the circumstances of the case may require.

 

12. In taking any account directed by any judgment or order, all just allowances shall be made without any direction for the purpose.

 

13. It is shall appear to the Judge that that there is any undue delay in the prosecution of any proceedings, the Judge may require the party having the conduct of the proceedings or any other party, to explain the delay and may thereupon make such order with regard to expediting the proceedings or the conduct thereof, or the stay thereof and as to the costs of the proceedings as the circumstances of the case may require; and for the purposes aforesaid any party may be directed to summon the persons whose attendance is required, and to conduct any proceeding and carry out any direction which may be given.

 

ORDER 28 – SPECIAL CASE

1. At the pre-trial conference parties may concur in stating the questions of law arising in their case in the form of a special case of the opinion of the Judge. Every such special case shall be divided into paragraphs numbered consecutively and shall concisely state such facts and documents as may be necessary to enable the court to decide the questions. Upon the argument of such case the judge and the parties may refer to all the contents of such documents and the Judge may draw from the facts and documents stated in any such special case any inference, whether of fact or law, which might have been drawn from them if proved at a trial.

 

2. If at the pre-trial conference is appears to the Judge that there is in any cause or matter a question of law, which could be conveniently decided before any evidence is given or any question or issue of fact is tried, the Judge may make an order accordingly, and may raise such questions of law or direct them to be raised at the trial either by special case or in such other manner as the Judge may deem expedient , and all such further proceedings as the decision of such question of law may render unnecessary may thereupon be stayed.

 

3. Every special case agreed pursuant to Rule 1 shall be signed by the several parties or their Legal Practitioners and shall be filed by the plaintiff or other party having conduct of the proceedings.

 

4. An application to set down a special case in any cause or matter to which a person under legal disability is a party shall be supported by sufficient evidence that the statements contained in such case, so far as the same effects the interest of such person are true.

 

5. (1) The parties to a special case may, if they think fit, enter into an agreement in writing, which shall not be subject to any stamp duty, that on the judgment of the court being give in the affirmative or negative on the questions of law raised by the special case, a sum of money fixed by the parties or to be ascertained by the court or in such manner as the court may direct, shall be paid by one of the parties to the other of them, either with or without costs as the case may be.

(2) The judgment of the court may be entered for the sum of agreed or ascertained, with or without costs, as the case may be, and execution may issue upon such judgment forthwith, unless otherwise agreed or unless stayed on appeal.

 

6. This order shall apply to every special case stated in a cause or matter and in any proceedings incidental thereto.

 

ORDER 29 – CAUSE LISTS

1. (1) The Registrar shall keep a list (hereinafter called the Pre-Trial List ) of actions directed to be set down for pre-trial conference under order 25 Rule 3.

(2) The Registrar shall also keep a Weekly Cause List of all other actions which are ready for trial or hearing.

 

2. (1) The Registrar shall port up every Friday a Pre-Trial and Weekly Cause List which shall set out the arrangement of causes before each of the Judges sitting in Court during the following week.

(2) Nothing in this rule shall preclude the Chief Judge from making special arrangements, whenever necessary or convenient, for the disposal of causes and matters included in the list. Where any Friday is a public holiday, the Pre-Trial List and Holidays Weekly shall be posted up on the day last preceding which is not a public holiday. One any day when a Judge shall be unable to sit in Court and deal with any cause or matter fixed for hearing, a minute, recording the parties present and the step taken by the Registrar, shall be entered on the Court file. Pre-Trial Lists and Weekly Cause Lists and other such lists shall be posted up on one or more notice boards set up in such place or places within or near the court premises as the Chief Judge may designate.

 

ORDER 30 – PROCEEDING AT TRIAL

1. When a cause on the Weekly Cause List has been called for hearing and neither party appears, the Judge shall, unless he sees good reason to the contrary, strike the cause out.

 

2. When a cause is called for hearing if the plaintiff appears and the defendant does not appear, the plaintiff may prove his claim, so far as the burden or proof lies upon him.

 

3. When a cause is called for hearing, if the defendant appears and the plaintiff does not appear, the defendant, if he has no counterclaim, shall be entitled to judgment dismissing the action, but if he has a counterclaim, then he may prove such counterclaim, so far as the burden of proof lies upon him.

 

4. (1) Where a cause is struck out under Rule 1 of this Order either party may apply that the cause be replaced on the cause list on such terms as the Judge may deem fit.

(2) Any judgment obtained where any party does not appear at the trial may be set aside by the Judge upon such terms as he may deem fit.

(3) An application to re-list a cause struck out or to set aside judgment shall be made within 6 days after the order or judgment or such other larger period as the Judge may allow.

 

5. The Judge may, if he thinks it expedient in the interests of justice, postpone or adjourn a trial for such time and upon such terms, if any, as he shall deem fit.

 

6. The Registrar or other proper officer present at any trial or hearing shall make a note of the times at which the trial or hearing commences and terminates respectively and the time it actually occupies on each day it goes on for communication to the Taxing Officer if required.

 

7. The order of proceeding at the trial of a cause shall be as prescribed in the following rules.

 

8. The party on whom the burden of proof lies by the nature of the issues or questions between the parties shall begin.

 

9. Documentary evidence shall be put in and may be read or taken as read by consent.

 

ORDER 31 – FILING OF WRITTEN ADDRESS

1. This order shall apply to all applications and final addresses.

 

2. A written address shall be printed on white opaque A4 size paper and set out in paragraphs numbered serially and shall contain:
   a. the claim or application on which the address is based;
   b. a brief statement of the facts with reference to the exhibit attached to the application or tendered at thetrial;
   the issues arising from the evidence;
   c. a succinct statement of argument on each issue incorporating the purport of the authorities referred to together with full citation of each such authority.

 

3. All written addresses shall be concluded with a numbered summary of the points raised and the party’s prayer. A list of all authorities referred to shall
   be submitted with the address. Where any unreported judgment is relief upon the Certified True Copy shall be submitted along with the written address.

 

4. Oral argument of not more than twenty minutes shall be allowed for each party.

 

5. Each party shall file two copies of his written address in court and serve a copy thereof on every party.

 

ORDER 32 – EVIDENCE GENERALLY

1. (1) Subject to these rules and to any enactment relating to evidence any fact required to be proved at the trial of any action shall be proved by written deposition and oral examination of witnesses in open court.

(2) All agreed documents or other exhibits shall be tendered from the bar or by the party where he is not represented by a Legal Practitioner.

(3) The oral examination of a witness during his evidence-in-chief shall be limited to confirming his written deposition and tendering in evidence all disputed documents or other exhibits referred to in the deposition.

(4) Real evidence shall be tendered during the trial.

 

2. (1) A Judge may, at or before the trial of an action, order or direct that evidence of any particular fact be given at the trail in such manner as may be specified by the order or direction.

(2) The power conferred by sub-rule 1 of this rule extends in particular to ordering or directing that evidence of any particular fact be given at the trial:
(a) by statement on oath of information or brief;
(b) by the production of documents or entries in books;
(c) by copies of documents or entries in books; or
(d) in the case of a fact which is or was a matter of common knowledge either generally or in a particular district, by the production of a specific newspaper which contains a statement of that fact.

 

3. A Judge may, at or before the trial of an action order or direct that the number of medical or expert witnesses who may be called at the trial be limited as specified by the order or direction.

 

4. Unless, at or before trial, a Judge for special reasons otherwise orders or directs, no document, plan, photography or model shall be receivable in evidence at the trial of an action unless it has been filed along with the pleadings of the parties under these rules.

 

5. Any order or direction under this Order ,may, on sufficient cause being shown, be revoked or varied by a subsequent order or direction of a Judge made or given a or before the trial.

 

6. (1) CERTIFIED TRUE COPIES (not office copies) of all writs, processes, records, pleadings, and documents, filed in the High Court shall be admissible in evidence in all matters to the same extent as the original will be admissible.

(2) Certified True Copies of survey plans, may be received in evidence without calling the maker to give evidence. It shall be sufficient if the survey plan is certified as a True Copy by the surveyor who produced it.

 

7. Where an order is made for the issue of a request to examine a witness or witnesses in any foreign country with which a convention in that behalf has been or shall be made, the following procedure shall be adopted: the party obtaining such order shall file in the Registry an undertaking in the Form 23 which form may be varied as may be necessary to meet the circumstances of the particular case in which it is used; such undertaking shall be accompanied by a request in Form 24, with such modifications or variations as may be directed in the order for its issue, together with a translation in the language of the country in which it is to be executed (if not English); a copy of the interrogatories (if any) to accompany the requests, with a translation if necessary ; and a copy of the cross-interrogatories (if any) with a translation if necessary.

 

8. Where an order is made for the examination of a witness or witnesses before the Nigerian Diplomatic Agent in any foreign country with which a convention in the behalf has been made the order shall be in Form 25, the form may be modified or varied as may be necessary to meet the circumstances of the particular case in which it is used.

 

9. The Judge may at any stage of any proceedings order the attendance of any person for the purpose of producing any writings of or other documents named in the order:
   Provided that no person shall be compelled to produce under any such order any writing or other document which he could not be compelled to produce at the hearing or trial.

 

10. Any person wilfully disobeying any order requiring his attendance for the purpose of being examined or producing any document shall be in contempt of court, and may be dealt with accordingly.

 

11. Any person required to attend for the purpose of being examined or of producing any document, shall be entitled to payment for expenses and loss of time occasioned by his attendance.

 

12. If any person duly summoned by subpoena to attend for examination shall refuse to attend of if having attended, he shall refuse to be sworn or to answer and lawful question he shall be in contempt of court any may be dealt with accordingly by the Judge.

 

13. When the examination of any witness before any examiner under Rule 7 above shall have been conducted, the original depositions authenticated by the signature of the examiner, shall be transmitted by him to the Registry and filed.

 

14. Except where by this Order otherwise provided or directed by a Judge, no deposition shall be given in evidence at the hearing or trial of the cause or matter without the consent of the party against whom the same may be offered, unless the Judge is satisfied that the deponent is dead or beyond the jurisdiction the court or unable from sickness or other infirmity to attend the hearing or trial, in any of which case the depositions certified under the hand of the person taking the examination shall be admissible in evidence, saving all just exceptions, without proof of the signature to such certificate.

 

15. Any officer of the court or other person directed to take the examination of any witness or person or any person nominated or appointed to take the examination of any witness or person pursuant to the provisions of any Convention now made or which may hereafter be made with any foreign country, may administer oaths.

 

16. A party may by subpoena ad testificantium or duces tecum require the attendance of any witness before an officer of the court or other person appointed to take the examination, for the purpose of using his evidence upon any proceeding in the cause or matter in like manner as such witness would be bound to attend and be examined at the hearing or trial; and any party or witness having made an affidavit to be used in any proceeding in the cause or matter shall be bound on being so subpoenaed to attend before such officer or person for cross-examination.

 

17. The practice with reference to the examination, cross examination and re-examination of witnesses at a trial shall extend and be applicable to evidence taken in any cause or matter at any stage.

 

18. The practice of the court with respect to evidence at a trial, when applied to evidence to be taken before an officer of the court or other person in any cause or matter after the hearing or trial, shall be subject to any special directions which may be given in any case.

 

19. Subject to the provisions of section 34 of the Evidence Act, all evidence taken at the hearing or trial of any cause or matter may be used in any subsequent proceedings in the same cause or matter.

 

20. (1) Where it is intended to issue out a subpoena a praecipe for that purpose in Form 26 containing the name or firm and the place of business or residence of the Legal Practitioner intending to issue out the same, and where such Legal Practitioner is agent only, then also the name or firm and place of business or residence of the principal Legal Practitioner, shall in all cases be delivered and filed at the Registry. No subpoena shall be issued unless all court fees have been paid (including fee for service) and unless sufficient conduct money on the prescribed scale is deposited to cover the first day’s attendance.

(2) A subpoena shall be in one of Forms 27,28 or 29 with such variations as circumstances may require. Where a subpoena is required for the attendance of a witness for the purpose of proceedings in Chambers, such subpoena shall issue from the Registry upon the Judge’s directive. In the interval between the issue and service of any subpoena the Legal Practitioner issuing it may correct any error in the names of parties or witnesses, and may have the writ resealed upon leaving a corrected praecipe of the subpoena marked with the words “altered and resealed”, with the signature, name and address of the Legal Practitioner.

(3) A subpoena shall be served personally unless substituted service has been ordered by a Judge in case where a person persistently evades service. The provisions of Order 7 shall so far as possible apply to service and proof of services of a subpoena.

(4) Any subpoena shall remain in force from the date of issue until the trail of the action or matter in which it is issued.

 

22. Any person who would under the circumstances alleged by him to exist become entitled, upon the happening of any future event, to any honour, title, dignity or officer, or to any estate or interest in any property, real or personal the right or claim to which cannot be brought to trial by him before the happening of such event, may commence an action to perpetuate any testimony which may be material for establishing such right or claim.
23. (1) A witness shall not be examined to perpetuate his testimony unless and action has been commenced for that purpose.

(2) No action to perpetuate the testimony of a witness shall be set down for trial.

ORDER 33 – AFFIDAVITS

1. Upon any motion, petition, summons or other application, evidence may be given by affidavit, but the Judge may, sou motu or on application, order the attendance for cross-examination of the deponent and where, after such an order has been made the person in question does not attend; his affidavit shall not be used as evidence save by special leave.

2. Every affidavit shall bear the title in the cause or matter in which it is sworn but in every case in which there is more than one plaintiff or defendant, it shall be sufficient to state the full name of the first plaintiff or defendant respectively, and that there are other plaintiff or defendant, as the case may be.

3. The Judge may receive any affidavit sworn for the purpose of being used in any cause or matter, notwithstanding any defect by misdescription of parties or otherwise in the title or jurat, or any other irregularity in the form thereof, and may direct a memorandum to be made on the document that it has been so received.

4. Where a special time is limited for filing affidavits, no affidavit filed after that time shall be used, unless by leave of the Judge.

5. Except by leave of the Judge no order made ex-parte in Court founded on any affidavit shall be of any force unless the affidavit on which the application was based was made before the order was applied for, and produced or filed at the time of making the application.

6. The party intending to use any affidavit in support of any application made by him shall give notice to the other parties concerned.

7. Every alteration in any account verified by affidavit shall be marked with the initials of the commissioner before whom the affidavit is sworn and such alterations shall not be made by erasure.

8. Accounts, extracts from registers, particulars of creditors’ debt, and other documents referred to by affidavit, shall not be annexed to the affidavit or referred to as annexed, but shall be referred to as exhibits.

9. Every certificate on an exhibit referred to in an affidavit signed by the commissioner before whom the affidavit is sworn shall be marked with the short title of the cause or matter.

10. The provisions of Sections 79 to 90 of the Evidence Act which set out provisions governing affidavits shall be applicable under these rules.

ORDER 34 – NON-SUIT

1. Where satisfactory evidence is not given entitling the plaintiff or defendant to the judgment of the court, the Judge may suo motu or on application non-suit the plaintiff, but the parties’ Legal Practitioner shall have the right to make submission about the propriety or otherwise of making such order. The Judge may upon a motion for a new trial or review of judgment, order a non-suit or judgment to be entered, although no leave has been reserved at the trial.

ORDER 35 – JUDGMENT, ENTRY OF JUDGMENT

1. The Judge shall, at the pre-trial conference or after trial deliver judgment in open court, and shall direct judgment to be entered.

2. Where any judgment is pronounced by a Judge the judgment shall be dated as of the day on which such judgment is pronounced and shall take effect
   from that date unless the Judge otherwise orders.

3.When any judgment is directed to be entered by an order made on application for judgment, the judgment shall, unless the Judge otherwise orders, be dated as of the day on which the order is made and take effect from that date:

Provided that the order may direct that the judgment shall not be entered until a given date, in which case it shall take effect from that date.

4. The Judge at the time of making any judgment or order or at any time afterwards, may direct the time within which the payment is to be made or other act is to be done, reckoned form the date of the judgment or order, or from some other point of time, as the Judge deems fit and may order interest at a rate not less than 10% per annum to be paid upon any judgment.

5. Every judgment or order made in any cause or matter requiring any person to do an act shall state the time or the time after service of the judgment or
   order, within which the act is to be done; there shall be endorsed on the judgment or order a memorandum by the Registrar in the following words, viz:

“If you, the within-named A/B, neglect to obey this judgment (or order) by the time therein limited, you will be liable to process of execution for the purpose of compelling you to obey the said judgment (or order)” and same shall be served upon the person required to obey the judgment or order.

 

6. In any cause or matter where the defendant has appeard by Legal Practitioner, no order for entering judgment shall be made by consent unless the consent of the defendant is given by his Legal Practitioner or agent.

 

7. Where the defendant has no Legal Practitioner such order shall not be made unless the defendant gives his consent in person in open court.

 

ORDER 36 – DRAWING UP OF ORDERS

1. Every order shall bear the date on which it was made, unless the Judge otherwise directs and shall take effect accordingly.

 

2. Where an order has been made not embodying any special terms, nor including any special directions, but simply enlarging time for taking any proceeding or doing any act or giving leave for the issue of any writ other than a writ of attachment;
   for the amendment of any writ or pleading;
   for the filing of any document; or
   for any act to be done by any officer of the court other than a legal practitioner, it shall not be necessary to draw up such order unless the Judge otherwise directs; but the production of a note or memorandum of such order signed by a Judge shall be sufficient authority for such enlargement of time, issue, amendment, filing or other act. A direction that the costs of such order shall be costs in any cause or matter shall not be deemed to be a special direction within the meaning of this rule.

 

3. An order shall be sealed, and shall be marked with the name of the Judge by whom it is made.

 

 

ORDER 37 – TRANSFER AND CONSOLIDATION

1. Where the Chief Judge has in exercise of any powers conferred on him by any relevant law, order the transfer of any action or matter from a Lower Court to the High Court, a copy of the order duly certified by the Registrar shall for within be sent to the Registrar of the Lower, Court and the latter shall forthwith transmit to the High Court the documents referred to in the relevant law and other necessary documents and processes.

 

2. (1) On receipt by the court of the relevant documents and processes, the Registrar shall notify the party who applied for the transfer, or where the transfer was not made on the application of any part, the plaintiff, to attend at the Registry and pay the fees for filing the documents. Such payment shall be without prejudice to the question of how the costs shall ultimately be borne.

(2) Such notification shall be effected by serving a notice personally on the party concerned, or, where an address for service has been given by such party, at the address.

 

3. (1) The Registrar shall on payment of the prescribed fees, in any case not later than 7 days. file the documents received from the Lower Court; make an entry of the filing in the Cause book; and transmit the documents to the Chief Judge or such other Judge appointed by the Chief Judge.

(2) The Registrar shall then give notice to the parties to attend in person or by counsel before a named Judge on the day and at the time specified in the notice. The fees for the service of this notice shall be borne in the first instance by the party who has paid the fees for filing as provided by Rule 2 of this Order.

 

4. (1) The Chief Judge or such other Judge appointed by him shall, not later than 14 days after receiving the documents referred to in Rule 3 of this order. hear the parties or their Legal Practitioners; take cognizance of the documents; and thereafter; give direction for the trial or hearing of the action or matter.

(2) Directions given under this rule may include directions for the filing and service of pleadings.

 

5. (1) If the plaintiff fails to attend in compliance with a notice given under sub-rule 2 of Rule 3 of this Order, the Judge shall record his default and may, suo motu or on application, dismiss the action or matter. Upon an application by a defendant to dismiss the action or matter, the Judge may either dismiss the action or matter upon such terms as may be just or make such other order on such terms as he deems just.

(2) If the defendant fails or all of several defendants fail to attend in compliance with a notice given under sub-rule 2 of Rule 3, the plaintiff may enter judgment with costs or obtain the Order prayed for in the transferred proceedings.

 

6. In the preceding rule of this order, the references to the plaintiff and the defendant shall, in relation to proceedings commenced otherwise than by writ, be construed as references to the applicant and the respondent.

 

7. II consolidation

(1) The Judge may ion application consolidate several actions pending before him where it appears that the issues are the same in all the actions, and can therefore be properly tried and determined at the same time.

(2) Where actions are pending before different Judges, a party desiring consolidation shall first apply to the Chief Judge for transfer of the matter to a Judge before whom one or more of the matters is pending.

(3) An order to consolidate may be made where two or more actions are pending between the same plaintiff and the same defendant or between the same plaintiff and different defendants or between different plaintiffs and the same defendant or between different plaintiffs and different defendants:
Provided that where the same plaintiff brings actions against different defendants, they will not be consolidated without the consent of all parties unless the issues to be tried are identical.

(4) Where an order for consolidation has been made, it shall be drawn up at the expense of the party or parties who applied for consolidation and shall be recorded in the Causes Book.

 

ORDER 38 – INTERLOCUTORY ORDERS, ETC

1. (1) When by any contract a prima facie case of liability is established and there is alleged as a matter of defence a right to be relieved wholly or partially from such liability, a Judge may make an order for the preservation or interim custody of the subject – matter of the litigation or may order that the amount in dispute be brought into Court or otherwise secured.

(2) An application for an order under Rule 1 sub-rule 1 of this Order may be made by the plaintiff at any time after his right thereto appears from the pleadings.

 

2. Whenever an application shall be made before trial for an injunction or other order and on the opening of such application, or at any time during the hearing thereof, it shall appear to the Judge that the matter in controversy in the cause or matter is one which can be most conveniently dealt with by an early trial, without first going into the whole merits on affidavit or other evidence for the purposes of the application, it shall be lawful for the Judge to make an order for such trial accordingly and in the meantime to make such order as the justice of the case may require.

 

3. The Judge may upon the application of any party make any order for the sale by any person or persons named in such order and in such manner and on such terms as the Judge may deem desirable, of any goods, wares, or merchandize which may be of a perishable nature, or likely to injure from keeping, or which for any other just and sufficient reason it may be desirable to sell at once.

 

4. (1) A Judge may upon the application of any party to an action or matter and upon such terms as may be just, make any order for the detention, preservation or inspection of any property or thing, being the subject of such action or matter or as to which any question may arise therein, and for all or any of the purposes aforesaid authorize any samples to be taken or any observation to be made or experiment to be tried, which may be necessary or expedient for the purpose of obtaining full information or evidence.

(2) Where an order for the inspection of any property or thing is made on an application under this rule (including an application made before any pleadings have been delivered in the action or matter) it appears that inspection was requested in writing by he applicant and was not given, then, unless the Judge is satisfied that the respondent did not unreasonably fail or refuse to permit the inspection, the Judge shall order the costs to be paid by the respondent in any event and except where the respondent is a “Poor Person:, shall order the cost to be paid forthwith.

(3) The Judge by whom any action or matter may be heard or tried, may inspect any property or thing concerning which any question may arise therein.

 

5. (1) Where any property is in possession of the Court either before or after judgment and tit has remained so for a period or 12 months, a Judge may suo motu make an order for the sale of that property and the proceeds thereof to be paid into an interest yielding account in a commercial bank directed by the Judge for the benefit of the person that succeeds at the trial or on appeal.

(2) The money aid after disposal of any goods or chattel shall be withdrawn from the bank by the successful party who shall present to the Chief Registrar a certified true copy of the enrolment of the judgment.

 

6. Where an action or counterclaim is filed to recover specific property and the party from whom such recovery is sought does not dispute title but claims to retain the property by virtue of a lien or otherwise as security for any sum of money, the Judge may at the pre-trial conference order that the party claiming to recover the property be at liberty to pay into Court, to abide the event of the action, the amount of money in respect of which the lien or security is claimed and such further sum, if any, for interest and costs as the Judge may direct and that upon such payment into Court being made, the property claimed be given up to the party claiming it.

 

7. Where any real or personal estate or property forms the subject of any proceedings and the Judge is satisfied that the same will be more than sufficient to answer all the claims thereon which ought to be provided for in such proceedings, the Judge may at any time after the commencement of the proceedings, allow the parties interested therein or any one or more of them, the whole or part of the annual income of the real estate or a part of the personal estate or property or the whole or party of the income thereof, up to such time as the Judge shall direct.

 

8. In any action or matter in which an injunction has been or might have been claimed, the plaintiff may, before or after judgment, apply for an injunction to restrain the defendant or respondent from the repetition or continuance of the wrongful act or breach of contract complained of or from the commission of any injury relating to the same property or right or arising out of the same contract and the Judge may grant the injunction either upon or without terms as may be just.

 

9. In every case in which an application is made for the appointment of a receiver by way of equitable execution, the Judge in determining whether it just or convenient that such appointment should be made shall have regard to the amount of the debt claimed by the applicant, to the amount which may probably be obtained by the receiver and to the probable costs of his appointment and may if the Judge shall deem fit, direct any inquiries on these or other matters before making the appointment.

 

10. Where an order is made directing a receiver to be appointed, unless otherwise ordered, the person to be appointed shall first give security, to be approved by the Judge, duly to account for what he shall receive as such receiver, and to pay the same as the Judge shall direct, and the person so to be appointed shall, unless otherwise ordered be allowed a proper salary or allowance. The security to be given shall be by guarantee or by an undertaking in Forms 30 and 31 with such variations as circumstances may require. The undertaking shall be filed in the Registry and form part of the record of proceedings until it has been duly vacated.
11. Where any judgment or order is pronounced or made in court appointing a person therein named to be receiver the Court may adjourn the proceedings then pending, in order that the person named as receiver may given security as in the last preceding rule mentioned, and may thereupon direct such judgment or order to be drawn up.

12. When a receiver is appointed with a direction that the shall pass accounts, the Judge shall fix the days upon which he shall (quarterly or at shorter periods) leave and pass such accounts, and also the days upon which he shall pay the balances appearing due on the accounts so left, or such part of them as shall be certified as proper to be paid by him. With respect to any such receiver as neglects to leave and pass his accounts and pay the balances at the times fixed for the purpose as aforesaid, the Judge may from time to time, when his subsequent accounts are produced to be examined and passed, disallow the salary claimed by such receiver and may also charge him with interest at a rate not exceeding twenty-five per cent per annum upon the balances so neglected to be paid by him during the time the same appears to have remained in his hands.

13. Receivers’ accounts shall be in Form 32 with such variations as circumstances may require.

14. Every receiver shall deliver tio the Registrar his account, together with an affidavit verifying the same in Form 33 with such variations as circumstances may require. An appointment shall, thereupon be obtained by the plaintiff or person having the conduct of the action for purpose of passing such account.

15. Where any receiver fails to leave any account or affidavit or to pass such account or to make any payment or otherwise, the receiver or the parties or any of them, may be required to show cause why such account passed or such payment was made or any other proper proceedings taken and thereupon such directions as shall be proper may be given, including the discharge of any receiver and appointment of another and payment of cost. The account of guardians shall be passed and verified in the same manner as is by this Order directed as to receivers’ accounts.

ORDER 39 – MOTIONS AND OTHER APPLICATIONS

1. (1) Where by these rules any application is authorized to be made to a Judge, such application shall be made by motion which may be supported by affidavit and shall state under what rule of Court or Law the application is brought. Every motion shall be served within 5 days of filing.

(2) Every such application shall be accompanied by a written address in support of the relief sought.

(3) Where the other party intends to oppose the application, he shall within 7 days of the service on him of such application, file his written address and may accompany it wish a counter affidavit.

(4) The applicant may on being served with the written address of the opposing party file and serve an address in reply on point of law within 7 days of being served. Where a counter affidavit is served on the applicant he may file further affidavit with his reply.

2. No motion or application for a rule nisi or order to show cause shall be made in any action.

3. (1) Except where an application ex-parte is required or permitted under any law or rules, every motion shall be on notice to the other party.

(2) No application for an injunction shall be made ex-parte unless the applicant files with it a motion on notice in respect of the application.

(3) An order of injunction made upon an application ex-parte shall abate after 7 days.

(4) A Judge may upon application extend the effective period of an order made ex-parte if he is satisfied that the motion on notice have been serviced and that such extension is necessary in the interest of justice or to prevent an irreparable or serious mischief. The application for such an extension shall be made before abatement of the order and the extension shall not be for a period exceeding 7 days from the day the extension is granted.

4. (1) Every motion on notice to set aside, remit or enforce an arbitral award shall state in general terms the grounds of the application and where any such motion is founded on evidence by affidavit, a copy of any affidavit intended to be used shall be served with the notice of motion.

(2) The party relying on an award, on applying for its enforcement shall supply:
(a) the duly authenticated original award or a duly copy thereof;
(b) the original arbitration agreement or a duly certified copy thereof.

(3) An award made by an arbitrator or a decision reached at the Multi- Door Court House may by leave of a Judge be enforced in the same manner as a judgment or order of Court.

(4) An application to set aside or remit any award may be made at any time within 6 weeks after such award has been made, and published to the parties:
Provided that a Judge may by order extend the said time either before or after the same has elapsed.

5. Unless a Judge grants special leave to the contrary, there must be at least 2 clear days between the service of all processes in respect of a motion and the day named in the notice for hearing the motion.

6. If on the hearing of a motion or other application the Judge shall be of opinion that any person to whom notice has not been given ought to have had such notice, the Judge may either dismiss the motion or application or adjourn the hearing thereof, in order that such notice may be given upon such terms, if any, as the judge may deem it fit to impose.

 

7. The hearing of any motion or application may from time to time be adjourned upon such terms, if any as the Judge shall deem fit:

Provided that application for adjournment at the request of a party shall not be made more than two times.

 

8. A plaintiff may file any application along with an originating process and may serve both on any defendant simultaneously.

 

9. Where the relationship of Legal Practitioner and client exists or has existed, a summons may be issued by the client or his representative for the delivery of a cash account of the payment of moneys or the delivery of securities, and a Judge may from time to time order the respondent to deliver to the applicant a list of the moneys or securities which he has in his custody or control on behalf of the applicant or to bring into court the whole or any part of the same, within such time as the Judge may order. In the event of the respondent alleging that he has a claim for costs, the Judge may make provision for the taxation and the payment or security thereof or the protection of the respondent’s lien (if any) as he may deem fit.

 

10. If during the taxation of any bill of costs or the taking of any account between Legal Practitioner and client, it shall appear to the taxing officer that there must, in any event be moneys due from the Legal Practitioner to the client, the taxing officer may from time to time, make an interim certificate as to the amount so payable by the Legal Practitioner. Upon the filing of such certificate, a Judge may order the moneys so certified to be forthwith paid to the client or brought into Court.

 

ORDER 40 – APPLICATION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW

1. (1) An application for:
   an order of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari; or
   an injunction restraining a person from acting in any office in which he is not entitled to act shall be made by way of an application for judicial review in accordance with the provisions of this Order.

(2) An application for a declaration or an injunction (not being an injunction in rule (1)(b) of this Rule) may be made by way of an application for judicial review and the Court may grant the declaration or injunction if it deems it just and convenient to grant it by way of judicial review, having regard to:
the nature of the matters in respect of which relief may be granted by way of an order of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari;
the nature of the persons and bodies against whom relief may be granted by way of such an order;
all the circumstances of the case.

 

2. On an application for judicial review any relief mentioned in Rule 1 may be claimed as an alternative or in addition to any other relief so mentioned if it
   arises out of, relates to or in connected with the same matter.

 

3. (1) No application for judicial review shall be made unless the leave of the Court has been obtained in accordance with this rule.

(2) An application for leave shall be made ex-parte to the Judge and shall be supported by:
(a) a statement setting out the name and description of the applicant, the reliefs sought, and the grounds on which they are sought;
(b) an affidavit verifying the facts relied on; and
(c) a written address in support of application for leave.

(3) the Judge hearing an application for leave may allow the applicant’s statement to be amended, whether by specifying different or additional grounds of relief or otherwise on such terms, if any, as he deems fit.

(4) The Judge shall not grant leave unless he considers that the applicant has a sufficient interest in the matter to which the application relates.

(5) Where leave is sought to apply for an order of certiorari to remove for the purpose of its being quashed any judgment, order, conviction or other proceedings which is subject to appeal and a time is limited for the bringing of the appeal, the Judge may adjourn the application for leave until the appeal is determined or the time for appealing has expired.

(6) Where leave to apply for judicial review is granted:
(a) if the relief sought is an order of prohibition or certiorari and the Judge so directs, the grant shall operate as a stay of the proceedings to which the application relates until the determination of the application or until the Judge otherwise orders; nation of the application or until the Judge otherwise orders;
(b) if any other relief is sought, the Judge may at any time grant In the proceedings such interim reliefs as could be granted in An action begun by writ;
(c) the Judge may impose such terms as to costs and as to giving security as he deems fit.

 

4. An application for judicial review shall be brought within 3 months of the date of occurrences of the subject of the application.

 

5. (1) When leave has been granted the application shall be made by motion or by originating summons.

(2) The notice of motion or summons shall be served on all persons directly affected and where it relates to any proceedings before a Judge and the object of the application is either to compel the Judge or an officer of the court to do any act in relation to the proceedings, or to quash them or any order made therein, the notice or summons shall also be served on the Clerk or Registrar of the Court and where any objection to the conduct of the Judge is to be made, on the Judge.

(3) Unless the Judge granting leave has otherwise directed, there shall be at least 7 days between the service of the notice of motion or summons and the day named therein for the hearing.

(4) A motion shall be entered for hearing within 14 days after the grant of leave.

(5) An affidavit giving the names and addresses of an the places and dates of service on all persons who have been served with the notice of motion or summons shall be filed before the motion or summons is entered for hearing and if any person who ought to be served under this rule has not been served, the affidavit shall state that fact and the reason for it and the affidavit shall be before the Judge on the hearing of the motion or summons.

(6) If on the hearing of the motion or summons the Judge is of opinion that any person who ought, whether under this rule or otherwise, to have been served has not been served, the Judge may adjourn the hearing on such terms, if any, as he may direct in order that the notice or summons may be served on that person.

 

6. (1) Copies of the statement in support of a application for leave under Rule 3 shall be served with the notice of motion or summons and subject to sub-rule 2, no grounds shall be relief upon or any relief sought at the hearing except the grounds and relief set out in the statement.

(2) The Judge may on the hearing of the motion or summons allow the applicant to amend his statement whether by specifying different or additional grounds of relief or otherwise, on such terms, if any, as he deems fit and may allow further affidavits to be used if they deal with new matters arising out of an affidavit to be used if they deal with new matters arising out of an affidavit of any other party to the application.

(3) Where the applicant intends to ask to be allowed to amend his statement or to use further affidavit, he shall give notice of his intension and of any proposed amendment to every other party.

(4) Each party to the application shall supply to every other party a copy of every affidavit which he proposes to use at the hearing including, in the case of the applicant, the affidavit in support of the application for leave under Rule 3.

 

7. On an application for judicial review the Judge may, subject to Rule 2, award damages to the applicant if:

(a) he has included in the statement in support of his application for leave under Rule 3 a claim for damages arising from any matter to which the application relates ;and

(b) the Judge is satisfied that if the claim had been made in an action begun by the applicant at the time of making his application, he could have been awarded damages.

 

8. Any interlocutory application in proceedings on an application for judicial review may be made to the Judge.

 

9. (1) On the hearing of any motion or summons under Rule 5, any person who desires t be heard on the motion or summons, and appears to the Judge to be a proper person to be heard, shall be heard notwithstanding that he has not been served with notice of the motion or the summons.

(2) Where the relief sought is or includes an order of certiorari to remove any proceeding for the purpose of quashing them, the applicant may not question the validity of any order, warrant, commitment, conviction, inquisition or record unless before the hearing of the motion or summons he has filed a copy thereof verified by affidavit or accounts for his failure to do so to the satisfaction of the Judge hearing the motion or summons.

(3) Where an order of certiorari is made in any such case as is referred to in sub-rule 2, the order shall, subject to sub-rule 4, direct that the proceedings shall be quashed forthwith on their removal into Court.

(4) Where the relief sought is an order of certiorari and the Judge is satisfied that there are grounds for quashing the decision to which the application relates, the Judge may, in addition to quashing it, remit the matter to the court, tribunal or authority concerned with a direction to reconsider it and reach a decision in accordance with the findings of the Judge.

(5) Where the relief sought is a declaration, an injunction or damages and the Judge considers that it should not be granted on an application for judicial review but might have been granted if it had been sought in an action begun by writ by the applicant at the time of making his application, the Judge may, instead of refusing the application, order the proceedings to continue as if they had been begun by writ.

 

10. No action or proceeding shall be brought or prosecuted against any person in respect of any thing done in obedience to an order of mandamus.

 

11. Where there is more than one application pending against several persons in respect of the same matter and on the same grounds, the Judge may order the applications to be consolidated.

 

ORDER 41 – HABEAS CORPUS, ATTACHMENT FOR CONTEMPT

1. Habeas Corpus

An application for an order of Habeas Corpus Ad Subjiciendum shall be made to the Court, except that:
in vacation or at any time when no Judge is sitting in Court it may be made to a Judge sitting otherwise than in Court.
in cases where the application is made on behalf of a child, it shall be made in the first instance to a Judge sitting otherwise than in Court.

 

2. (1) The application may be made ex-parte and shall be accompanied by an affidavit by the person restrained showing that it is made at his instance and setting out the nature of the restraint.

(2) Where the person restrained is unable owing to the restraint to make the affidavit, the application shall be accompanied by an affidavit to the like effect made by some other person which shall state that the person restrained is unable to make the affidavit himself.

 

3. (1) A Judge to whom the application is made may make the order forthwith.

(2) Where the application is made to a Judge sitting otherwise than in court he may direct the Order to issue or that an application therefore be made by notice of motion to the Judge or to a Judge.

(3) A Judge to whom the application is made may adjourn it so that notice thereof may be given to the Controller of prison, Commissioner of Police or any security agent.

(4) Where the person detained is produced before a Judge he may discharge him immediately with or without conditions.

 

4. (2) A Judge to whom the application is made may adjourn it so that notice thereof may be given to the Controller of prison, Commissioner of Police or any security agent.

(2) Where the person detained is produced before a Judge he may discharge him immediately with or without conditions.

 

5. (1) The summons or notice of motion aforesaid shall be served on the person against whom the order is sought and on such other person as the Judge may direct.

(2) Unless the Judge otherwise directs, there shall be at least 2 clear days between the service of the notice and the date named for the hearing of the application. Every party to the application shall supply to the other party or parties copies of the affidavits which he propose to use at the hearing of the application.

 

6. (1) The order or notice of motion may be served personally or by courier on the Controller of Prison; Commissioner of Police, or any Government Security agent where the person is confined or restrained or on any other public official and copies of the order or motion may be served in like manner on each person connected with or having authority over the place of confinement or restraint.

(2) The order shall contain the date on which the person restrained is to be brought before a Judge and that in default of obedience, proceedings for attachment of the party disobeying will be taken.

 

7. Upon service of the order or notice of motion on the Controller of Prison; Commissioner of Police of any Security agent he shall within 2 days file a statement stating the reasons for the detention, the period of the detention and any other matter that may be directed by the Judge. The statement shall be verified by an affidavit deposed to by the Controller of Prison; Commissioner of Police , or any security agent.

 

8. (1) Where the prisoner is brought up in accordance with the order, his Legal Practitioner shall be heard first, then the Legal Practitioner for the State and then the Legal Practitioner for the prisoner in reply.

(2) Where the prisoner is not brought in accordance with the order, a Judge may upon the application of his Legal Practitioner order that he be discharged or make any other order.

 

9. II. Attachment for Contempt
   (1) The procedure in applications for attachment for contempt of court in cases to which this rule applies shall be the same as for applications for an order for judicial review under Order 40 so far as may be applicable.

(2) The notice of motion shall be personally served unless the Judge dispense with such service.

(3) This rule applies to cases where the contempt is committed:
(a) in connection with proceedings to which this order relates;
(b) in connection with criminal proceedings;
(c) subject to the provisions of the Sheriff ad Civil Process Act, any proceedings in the High Court or where the contempt consists of disobedience to an Order of the Court;
(d) in connection with the proceedings in an inferior Court.

Provided that this rule shall not apply where the contempt is committed in facie curiae. When an order enforceable by committal has been made against a judgment debtor, and if the order is for delivery of goods without the option of paying their value or is in the nature of an injunction the Registrar shall when the order is drawn up immediately endorse it as follows:

Notice of Consequence of Disobedience to Court
To………………………………..of…………………………………………………..
TAKE NOTICE that unless you obey the directions(s) contained in this order you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.

Dated this……………….day of……………….20……………….

…………………………..
Registrar

Upon service of the application for committal issued in a case to which Rule 9 of this Order applies, the Respondent shall, before the return date stated in the application, file a statement stating the reasons why an order for attachment should not be issued. The statement shall be verified by an affidavit deposed to by the respondent.

Every order of attachment issued in a case to which Rule 9 of this Order applies shall be made returnable before the Judge. If a return of non est inventus (not found) is made, a subsequent order or orders may be issued on the return of the previous order.

 

ORDER 42 – INTERPLEADER

1. Relief by way of Interpleader may be granted where the person seeking relief (“ the applicant”) is under liability for any debt, money, goods, or chattels, for or in respect of which he is, or expects to be sued by two or more parties (“ the plaintiff”) making adverse claims thereto:

Provided that where the applicant is a Sheriff or other officer charged with the execution of process by or under the authority of the High Court, the provisions of Section 34 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act and the rules made under it shall apply.

 

2. The applicant must satisfy the Judge by affidavit or otherwise that he:

(a) claims no interest in the subject matter in dispute other than for charges or costs.
(b) does not collude with any of the claimants and
(c) is willing to pay or transfer the subject matter into court or to dispose of it as the Judge may direct.

 

3. The applicant shall not be disentitled to relief by reason only that the titles of the plaintiffs have not a common origin, but are adverse to and independent of one another.

 

4. Where the applicant is a defendant, application for relief may be made at any time after service of the originating process.

 

5. The applicant may take out a summons calling on the plaintiffs to appear and state he nature and particulars of their claims, and either to maintain or relinquish them.

 

6. If the application is made by a defendant in an action the Judge may stay all further proceedings in the action.

 

7. If the plaintiffs appear in pursuance of the summons, the Judge may order either that any plaintiff be made a defendant in any action already commenced in respect of the subject matter is dispute in lieu or in addition to the applicant or that an issue between the plaintiffs be stated and tried, and in the latter case may direct which of the plaintiffs is to be plaintiff and which is to be defendant.

 

8. Where the question is a question of law and the facts are not in dispute, the Judge may either decide the questions without directing the trial of an issue or order that a special case be stated for the opinion of the Judge. If a special case is stat, Order 28 shall as far as applicable apply thereto.

 

9. If a plaintiff, having been duly served with a summons calling on him to appears and maintain or relinquish his claim, does not appear in pursuance of the summons or having appeared, neglects or refuses to comply with any order made after his appearance, the Judge may make an order declaring him and all persons claiming under him, forever barred against the applicant and persons claiming under him but the order shall not affect the rights of the plaintiffs as between themselves.

 

10. The Judge may, in or for the purposes of any interpleader proceedings, make all such orders as to costs and all other matters as may be just.

 

ORDER 43 – COMPUTATION OF TIME

1. (1) Where by any law or order made by a Judge a time is appointed or limited for the doing of any act, the period shall be reckoned as excluding the day on which the order is made or on which the event occurs. where the last day of the period is a holiday the time shall continue until the end of the next day following which is not a public holidays.

(2) Where the act is required to be done within a period which does not exceed 6 days holidays shall be left out of account in computing the period.

(3) In this order holiday means a day which is a Sunday or a public holiday.

(4) No pleading, summons, motions, orders, originating process, Documents and other processes shall be served before 6:00am or after 6:00pm.

(5) Service effect after 6:00pm shall be deemed to have been effected the following day, provided that service effected after 6:00pm on Saturday shall be deemed to have been effected on the following Monday.

(6) The Judge may, as often as he deems fit, and either before or after The expiration of the time appointed by these rules or by any judgment or order of the court, extend or a adjourn the time for doing any act or taking any proceedings.

 

ORDER 44 – MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

1. Court sittings and Vacation

Subject to the provision of the Law, the Judge may, in his discretion, appoint any day or days and any place or places from time to time for the hearing of causes as circumstances require.

 

2. The sittings of the Judge for the hearing of causes shall ordinarily be public but subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Judge may for special reasons, hear any particular cause or matter in the presence only of the parties, with their Legal Practitioners if any, and the officers of Court.

 

3. The several offices of the Court shall be open at such times as the Chief Judge shall direct.

 

4. (1) Subject to the direction of the Chief Judge, sittings of the High Court for the dispatch of civil matters will be held on every week day except:
   (a) on any public holidays;
   (b) during the week beginning with Easter Monday;
   (c) during the period beginning on Christmas eve and ending on the 2nd January next following;
   (d) during the long vacation. i.e., the period beginning middle of July and ending on a date not more than 6 week later as the Chief Judge may by notification in the Gazette appoint.

(2) There shall be an annual vacation of the court to commence on such date in August and of such duration not exceeding six weeks as the Chief Judge may, by notification in the gazette appoint.

 

5. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 4, any cause or matter may be heard by a Judge during any of the periods mentioned in paragraphs (b), (c) or (d) of Rule 4 (except on a Sunday or public holiday) where such cause or matter is urgent or a Judge, at the request of all the parties concerned, agrees to hear a cause or matter.

(2) An application for an urgent hearing shall be made by motion exparte and the decision of the Judge on such an application shall be final.

 

6. The time for filing and service of pleadings shall not run during the annual vacation unless otherwise directed by the Judge.

 

7. II General
8. All fines, forfeitures, pecuniary penalties and costs ordered to be paid may be levied by distress, seizure and sale of the movable and immovable property of the person making default in payment.

 

8. When the publication of any notice is required the same may be made by advertisement in the Gazette, unless otherwise provided in any particular case by any rule of Court or otherwise ordered by the Judge.

 

9. A document shall not be filed unless it has endorsed on it the name and number of the cause, the date of filing and whether filed by plaintiff or defendant; and on being filed such endorsement shall be initiated by the Registrar and recorded in the Process Registrar.

 

10. All warrants and order of whatever description shall be sufficiently addressed for execution by being directed to the Sheriff, but this provision shall not prevent any order or warrant from being addressed to a person by name or to a person named and to officersof Court generally or to a Local Government Authority.

 

11. No fees are to be taken in respect of any proceedings where such fees would be payable by any Government Department:

Provided however, that when any person is ordered to pay the costs of the state or of any Government Department in any case, whether criminal or civil, all fees which would have been payable but for the provisions of this rule shall be taken as paid and shall be recoverable from such person.

 

12. The Regulations regarding fees shall govern the payment and disposal of fees and the duties of Court officers in regard thereto.

 

13. Where no provision is made by these rules or by any other written law, the Court shall adopt such procedure as will in its view do substantial justice between the parties concerned.

 

ORDER 45 – ARREST OF ABSCONDING DEFENDANT

1. The following rules shall apply to proceedings under section 77 of the Law.

 

2. If in any action the defendant is about to leave Nigeria the plaintiff may, either at the institution of the suit or at any time thereafter until final judgment, apply by ex-parte motion to the Judge for an order that the defendant o show cause why security should not be taken for his appearance to answer and satisfy any judgment that may be passed against him in the suit.

 

3. (1) If the Judge after making such investigation as he may consider necessary shall be of the opinion that there is probable cause for believing that the defendant is about to leave Nigeria and that by reason thereof the execution of any judgment which may be made against him is likely to be obstructed or delayed, the Judge shall issue a warrant to bring the defendant before him, that he may show cause why he should not give good and sufficient bail for his appearance.

(2) The defendant shall be brought to court within 2 days of the execution of the warrant.

 

4. If the defendant fails to show cause, the Judge shall order him to give bail for his appearance at any time when called upon while the suit is pending and until execution or satisfaction of any judgment that may be passed against him in the suit or to give bail for the satisfaction of such judgment; and the surety or sureties shall undertake in default of such appearance or satisfaction to pay any sum of money that may be adjudged against the defendant in the suit with costs.

 

5. (1) Where a defendant offers to deposit a sum of money in lieu of bail for his appearance, sufficient to answer the claim against him, with costs of the suit, the Judge may accept such deposit and direct that the deposit be paid into an interest yielding account in a bank.

(2) Where a defendant offers security other than money in lieu of bail for his appearance, sufficient to answer the claim against him, the Judge may accept such security and make such order as he may deem fit in the circumstance.

 

6. (1) If the defendant fails to furnish security or offer a sufficient deposit, the Judge may commit him into custody until the decision of the suit or if judgment has been given against the defendant until the execution of the Judgment.

(2) Committal to custody under this rule shall not exceed a period of 6 months.

(3) The Judge may at any time upon reasonable cause being shown and upon such terms as to security or otherwise as may seem just, release the defendant.

 

7. The expenses incurred for the subsistence in prison of the person so arrested shall be paid by the plaintiff in the action in advance, and the amount so disbursed may be recovered by a the plaintiff in this suit, unless the Judge shall otherwise order. The Judge may release the person so imprisoned on failure by the plaintiff to pay he subsistence money, or in case of serious illness order his removal to hospital.

 

ORDER 46 – PROCEEDINGS IN FORMA PAUPERIS

1. This Order shall apply to proceedings in respect of which there is not statutory provision for Legal Aid.

 

2. A Judge may admit a person to sue or defend in forma pauperis if satisfied that his means do not permit him employ legal representation in the prosecution of his case and that he has reasonable grounds for suit or defending as the case may be.

 

3. (1) A person seeking relief under this Order shall write an application to the Chief Judge accompanied by an affidavit, signed and sworn to by the applicant himself, stating that by reason of poverty he is unable to afford the services of a Legal Practitioner.

(2) If in the opinion of the Chief Judge the application is worthy of consideration, the Chief Judge shall appoint a Legal Practitioner to act for the applicant.

(3) Where a Legal Practitioner is so appointed the applicant shall not discharge the Legal Practitioner except with the leave of the Chief Judge.

 

4. Court fees payable by a person admitted to sue or defend in forma pauperis may be remitted either in whole or in part as a Judge may deem fit and a person so admitted to sue or defend shall not, unless the Judge otherwise orders, be liable to pay or be entitled to receive any costs.

 

5. (1) The legal Practitioner shall not, except by leave of the Chief Judge, take or agree to take any payment whatsoever from the applicant or any other person connected with the applicant or the action taken or defended thereunder.

(2) If the applicant pays or agrees to pay any money to any person whatsoever either in connection with his application or the action taken or defended thereunder, the order appointing the Legal Practitioner shall be revoked.

(3) If the Legal Practitioner assigned to the applicant discovers that the applicant is possessed of means beyond those stated in the affidavit, if any, he shall at once report the matter in writing to the Registrar.

 

6. (1) The Chief Judge may at any time revoke the order granting the application and thereupon the applicant shall not b entitled to the benefit of this Order in any proceedings to which the application relates unless otherwise ordered.

(2) Neither the applicant nor the Legal Practitioner assigned to him shall discontinue, settle or compromise the action without the leave of a Judge.

 

7. The Judge may order payment to be made to the Legal Practitioner out of any money recovered by the applicant or may charge in favour of the Legal Practitioner upon any property recovered by the applicant, such sum as in all the circumstances as he may deem fit.

 

8. Every order, notice or application on behalf of the applicant, except an application for the discharge of his Legal Practitioner, shall be signed by his Legal Practitioner, who shall take care that no application or notice is made or given without reasonable cause.

 

9. No person shall be permitted to appeal in forma pauperis except by leave of the trial of the appellate Court and then only on grounds of law; but if so permitted the provisions of this Order shall apply mutatis mutandis to all proceedings on the appeal.

 

ORDER 47 – CHANGE OF LEGAL PRACTITIONER

1. Every Legal Practitioner who shall be engaged in any cause or mater shall be bound to conduct same on behalf of the plaintiff or defendant as the case may be, by or for whom he shall have been so engaged until final judgment, unless allowed for any special reason to cease acting therein.

 

2. An application for a change of Legal Practitioner or withdrawal may be made by the plaintiff or defendant or the Legal Practitioner as the case may be, not less than 3 clear days before he date fixed for hearing.

 

3. Where the application is made by a Legal Practitioner, it shall be served on all parties to the cause or matter and where applicable also on the outgoing Legal Practitioner if he is not the applicant.

 

ORDER 48 – COST

1. (1) In fixing the amount of costs, the principle to be observed is that the party who is in the right is to be indemnified for the expenses to which he has been necessarily put in the proceedings, as well as compensated for his time and effort in coming to court. The Judge may take into account all the circumstances of the case.

(2) When costs are ordered to be paid, the amount of such costs shall, if practicable, be summarily determined by the Judge at the time of delivering the judgment or making the order.

 

2. In any cause or matter in which security for costs is required, the security shall be of such amount and be given at such times and in such manner and form as the Judge shall direct.

 

3. A plaintiff ordinarily resident out of the jurisdiction may be ordered to give security for costs, though he may be temporarily resident within the jurisdiction.

 

4. In actions brought by persons resident out of the jurisdiction, when the plaintiff’s claim is founded on a judgment or order or on a bill of exchange or other negotiable instrument, the power to require the plaintiff to give security for costs shall be exercised at the Judge’s discretion.

 

5. Where a bond is to be given as security for costs, it shall, unless the judge otherwise directs, be given to the party or person requiring the security and not to an officer of the Court.

 

6. Subject to the provisions of any applicable law and these Rules, the costs of and incidental to all proceedings in the High Court, including the administration of estates, and trusts, shall be at the discretion of the Judge, and the Judge shall have full power to determine by whom and to what extent the costs are to be paid.

 

7. The judge may order any costs to be paid out of any fund or property to which a suit or proceedings relates.

 

8. Where the Judge orders costs to be paid or security to be given for costs by any party, the Judge may order all proceedings costs by or on behalf of the party in the same suit or proceeding or connected with it, to be stayed until the costs are p[aid or security given accordingly, but such order shall not supersede the use of any other lawful method of enforcing payment.

 

9. (1) Costs may be dealt with by the Jude at any stage of the proceedings.

(2) Costs when ordered becomes payable forthwith, and shall be paid within 7 days of the order, otherwise the defaulting party or his Legal Practitioner may be denied further audience in the proceedings.

 

10. In addition to any penalty payable for default under these rules, the costs of and occasioned by any application to extend the time fixed by the rules or any direction or order thereunder, for delivering or filing any document or doing any other act, including the costs of any order made on the application, shall be borne by the party making the application unless the Judge otherwise orders.

 

11. The Judge is exercising his discretion as to costs shall take into account any offer or contribution made by any of the parties and any payment into Court and the amount of such payment.

 

12. (1) Where is any cause or matter anything is done or omission is made improperly or unnecessarily by or on behalf of a party, the Judge may direct that any costs to that party in respect of it shall not be allowed to him and that any costs occasioned by it to other parties shall be paid by him to them.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-rule 1 of this rule, the Judge, shall for the purpose of that sub-rule have regard in particular to the following matters, that is to say:
(a) the omission to do anything the doing of which would have been calculated to save costs;
(b) the doing of anything calculated to occasion or in a manner or at a time calculated to occasion unnecessary costs;
(c) any unnecessary delay in the proceedings.

(3) The Judge may instead of giving a direction under sub-rule 1 of this rule in relation to anything done or any omission made, direct the taxing officer to inquire into it and if it appears to him that such a direction as aforesaid should have been given in relation to it, to act as if the appropriate direction had been given.

 

13. (1) Subject to the following provisions of this rule, where in any proceedings costs are incurred improperly or without reasonable cause or are wasted by undue delay or by any other misconduct or default, the Judge may make against any legal Practitioner whom he considers to be responsible, whether personally or through a servant or agent, an order: disallowing the costs as between the Legal Practitioner and his client; and directing the Legal Practitioner to pay to his client costs which the client has been ordered to pay to other parties to the proceedings; or directing the Legal Practitioner personally to indemnify such other parties against cost payable by them.

(2) The provisions of Rule 13 sub-rule 1 shall apply where proceedings in court cannot conveniently proceed or fails or are adjourned without useful progress being made: because of the failure of the Legal Practitioner to attend in person or by a proper representative; or because of the failure of the Legal Practitioner to deliver any document for the use of the Court which ought to have been delivered or to be prepared with any proper evidence or account or otherwise to proceed.

(3) No order under this rule shall be made against a Legal Practitioner unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity to appear before the Judge to show cause why the order should not b made.

(4) The Judge may direct that notice of any proceedings or order against a Legal Practitioner under this rule shall be given to his client in such manner a may be specified in the direction.

 

ORDER 49 – APPLICATION AND PROCEEDINGS IN CHAMBERS

1. The business which may be disposed of in Chambers by a Judge shall consist of the following matters, in addition to the matters which under any other rule or any written law may be disposed of in chambers:-
2. application to serve a writ or other process out of the jurisdiction;
   b. applications for substituted service of a writ of other process;
   c. applications to have case heard during vacations;
   d. applications for enlargement of time;
   e. applications for a writ of attachment or for a garnishee order;
   f. applications for payment or transfer to any person of any cash or securities standing to his credit in any cause or matter where there has been a judgment or order declaring the rights or where the tile depends only upon proof of the identity of the birth, marriage or death of any person;
   h. applications as to the guardianship and maintenance or advancement of infants;
   i. any matter relating to the adoption of children;
   j. applications connected with the management of property;
   k. such other matters of an interlocutory nature as the Judge may think fit to dispose of in Chambers.

 

2. The provisions of Order 8 with regard to interlocutory applications by way of motion in court shall apply mutatis mutandis to applications to a Judge in
   Chambers.

 

3. Subject to the provisions of section 81 of the High Court Law, any order or direction made or given by a Judge in Chambers shall have the same effect
   as if such order or direction had been made or given in Court.

 

4. At any time during the proceeding under any judgment or order, the Judge may, if he deems fit, require a guardian to be appointed for any person under legal disability not adjudged a lunatic, who has been served with notice of such judgment or order.

 

5. II Further Consideration

Where any matter originating in Chambers shall, at the original or any subsequent hearing have been adjourned for further consideration in chambers, such matter may, after the expiration of 8 days and 14 days from the filing of the certificate, be brought on for further consideration by a summons to be taken out by the party having the conduct of the matter, and after the expiration of such 14 days by a summons to be taken out by any other party. Such summons shall be in the form following:

“ That this matter, the further consideration whereof was adjourned by the order of the……………………………………..on………………………day of…………………20……… may be further considered” and shall be served 7 clear days before the return:

Provided that this Rule shall not apply to any matter, the further consideration whereof shall, at the original or any subsequent hearing have been adjourned in Court.

 

6. III Registering and Drawing up of Orders in Chambers

Costs.
Notes shall be kept of all proceeding in the Judges’ Chambers with proper dates, so that all such proceeding in such cause or matter may appear consecutively and in chronological order, with a short statement of the question or points decided or rule at every hearing.

 

7. Orders made in Chambers shall, unless the Judge otherwise directs, be drawn up by the Registrar and signed by the Judge. Such orders shall be entered in the same manner as orders made in Court.

 

8. Subject to the provisions of the Law and of these Rules, the costs of, and incident to all proceeding in Chambers shall be at the discretion of the Judge.

 

9. (1) Where any party to proceeding in Chambers does not intend to accept the decision of the Judge in Chambers as final, he shall forthwith request to have the summons adjourned into Court for argument. If such request is refused, the party may proceed by way of motion with notice in Court to discharge, such aside or vary the order made or the judgment given or order made in chambers.

(2) The notice of motion shall be filed not later than 7 days after the drawing up of the Order made in Chambers unless the Court grants an extension of time on good and sufficient reason being shown, and the motion shall be heard and determined by the Judge who has dealt with the matter in Chambers, unless this proves impossible or inconvenient owing to such Judge’s death or retirement or prolonged absence from Plateau State.

(3) This rule shall apply to decisions given by a Judge in chambers on appeal from the Chief Registrar under Rule 4 of Oder 41.

 

ORDER 50 – STAY OF EXECUTION PENDING APPEAL

1. Where any application is made to a Judge for a stay of execution or of proceedings under any judgment or decision appealed from, such application shall be made by notice of motion supported by affidavit setting forth the ground upon which a stay or execution or of proceedings in sought.

 

2. An applicant for stay of execution of a judgment shall compile the records of appeal with 90 days from the date of filing a notice of appeal and where the record is not so compiled, the respondent may apply to strike out the application or discharge the order if already granted.

 

3. (1) Applicant for stay of execution shall be regarded as an urgent matter.

(2) Where a Judge has struck out an application for stay, no further application for stay of execution shall be made in the same matter.

 

4. Where any application is made to the Judge under this order, a formal order shall be drawn up embodying the terms of the decision of the Judge and bearing the date upon which the order is made.

 

ORDER 51 – PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION

1. Grant of probate or Administration in General

(1) Subject to the provisions of Rules 44 and 45 of this Order when any person subject to the jurisdiction of the Court dies, all petitions for the granting of any Letters of Administration of the estate of the deceased person, with or without a Will attached, and all applications on other matters connected therewith shall be made to the Probate Registrar of the Court.

(2) The Chief Judge shall request a Judge of any Judicial Division to take measures and make such orders as may appear necessary or expedient for the interim preservation of the property of the deceased within such Judicial Division, for the discovery or preservation of the Will of the deceased or for any other purposes connected with the duties of the Judge under this Order, and every Judge shall carry out any such request as far as practicable and report to the Chief Judge.

(3) No grant of administration with the Will annexed shall issue within 7 days of the death of the deceased; and no grant of administration, without the Will annexed, shall issue within 14 days of such death.

 

2. The Judge shall, when the circumstances of the case appear so to require, forthwith on the death or a person, or as soon after as may be, appoint and authorize an officer of the Court, or some other fit person, to take possession of his property within its jurisdiction, or put it under seal and so keep it until it can be dealt with according to law.

 

3. If any person other than the named executor or administrator, or an officer of the Court, or person authorized by the Judge, takes possession of and administers or otherwise deals with the property of any deceased person, he shall, besides the other liabilities he may incur, he liable to a fine of not less then N5000.00 (five thousand naira) as the Judge, having regard to the condition of the person so interfering with the property and the other circumstances of case, may deem fit to impose.

 

4. Any person having in his possession or under his control any paper or writing of any deceased person, being or purporting to be testamentary, shall forthwith deliver the original to the Probate Registrar of the Court. If any person fails to do so within 3 months after having had knowledge of the death of the deceased, he may be liable to a fine of N5,000.00 (five thousand naira) as the Judge having regard to the condition of such person in default and other circumstances of the case deem fit to impose.

 

5. Where it appears that any paper of the deceased, being or purporting to be testamentary is in the possession of, or under the control of any person, a Judge may upon an ex-parte application, whether a suit or proceeding respecting probate or administration is pending or not, order him to produce the paper and bring it into court.

 

6. Where it appears that there are reasonable ground for believing that any person had knowledge of any paper being or purporting to be testamentary, although it is not shown that the paper is in his possession or under this control, a Judge may upon an ex-parte application, whether a suit or proceedings in respect of probate or administration is pending or not, order that he be examined in respect of the same in Court, or on interrogatories, and that he attends for that purpose, and after examination that he produce the paper and bring it into Court.

 

7. The Judge may on the application of any person claiming an interest under a Will, give notice to the executors therein named, to come in and prove the Will, or to renounce probate, and they, or some or one of them, shall within 21 days after notice, come in and prove or renounce accordingly.

 

8. If any named executor in the Will of the deceased takes possession and administers or otherwise deals with any part of the property of the deceased, and does not apply for probate within 3 months after the death, or after the termination of any suit for or dispute in respect of probate or administration, the may, independent of any other liability be deemed t be in contempt of court, and shall be liable to such fine of not less than N5000.00 (five thousand hundred naira) as the Judge deems fit to impose.

9. The Judge shall require evidence, in addition to that offered by the applicant, where additional evidence in that behalf seems to the Judge necessary or desirable, in regard to the identify of the deceased or of the applicant, or in regard to the relationship of the applicant to the deceased, or in regard to any person or persons in existence with a right equal or prior to that of the applicant to the grant of probate or administration sought by the applicant to the question whether the applicant is the proper person to whom the grant should be made:

Provided that the Judge may refused the grant unless the applicant produces the required evidence on these point or any of them as required by the Judge.

 

10. Where it appears to the Judge that some person or persons other than the applicant may have at least an equal right the applicant to the grant sought, the Judge may refuse the grant until due notice of the application has been given to such other or persons and an opportunity given for such person or persons to be heard in respect of the application:

Provided that the Judge may in his discretion refuse the grant unless and until all persons entitled to the grant in priority to the applicant shall have expressly renounced their prior right.

11. Every applicant for a grant of Letters of Administration shall file in the Court a true declaration of all the personal property of the deceased and the value thereof; Provided that for the purpose of the fees payable on Letters of Administration, the value of the property in respect of which the grant is made shall be deemed not to include:
12. any gratuity payable by the Government of the Federation of Nigeria or of a State, to the estate of any Person formerly employed by either of such Governments or by a Statutory Corporation.
    b. any sum of money payable to an estate from a Provided Fund established under the provisions of any applicable Law.

12. All inquiries a Judge deems fit to institute shall be answered to his satisfaction before the assurance of Letters of Administration. The Judge shall afford as great a facility for the obtaining of Letters of Administration as is consistent with due regard to the prevention of error and fraud.

13. Suits in respect of administration shall be instituted and carried on as nearly as may be in the like manner and subject to the same rules of procedure as suits in respect of ordinary claims.

14. Any person may deposit his Will for safe custody in the Probate Registry, sealed under his own seal and the seal of the Court.

15. Every original Will, of which probate or administration with Will annexed is granted, shall be filed and kept in the Probate Registry in such manner as to secure at once its due preservation and convenient inspection. A copy of every such Will and of the probate or administration shall be preserved in the Registry.

16. No original Will shall be given out for any purpose without the direction in writing of a Judge. A certified transcript under the seal of the Court of the probate or administration with the Will annexed may be obtained from the Court.

17. (1) On receiving an application for administration with Will annexed, the Judge shall inspect the Will, and see whether it appears t be signed by the testator or by some other person in his presence, and by his direction, and subscribed by two witnesses according to the applicable law, and shall not proceed further if the Will does not appear to be so signed and subscribed.

(2) If the Will appears to be so signed and subscribed, the Judge shall refer to the attestation clause and consider whether the wording thereof states the Will to have been in fact executed in accordance with those enactments.

 

18. (1) Where a Will contains no attestation clause or the attestation clause is insufficient or where it appears to the Judge that there is some doubt about the due execution of the Will, he shall before admitting it to proof, require and affidavit as to due execution from one or more of the attesting witnesses or, if no attesting witness is conveniently available, from any other person who was present at the time the Will was executed.

(2) If no affidavit can be obtained in accordance with the foregoing paragraph, the Judge may, if he deems fit having regard to the desirability of protecting the interest of any person whom may be prejudiced by the Will, accept evidence of affidavit from any person he may deem fit to show that the signature on the Will is the handwriting of the deceased, or of any other matter which may raise a presumption in favour of the due execution of the Will.

(3) If the Judge, after considering the evidence is satisfied that the Will, was not duly executed, he shall refuse probate and mark the Will accordingly.

19. Where both subscribing witnesses are dead or if from other circumstances such an affidavit cannot be obtained from either of them, resort for such an affidavit shall be had to other persons present a the execution of the Will; but if no such affidavit can be obtained, proof shall be required of that fact, and of the handwriting of the deceased and of the subscribing witnesses, and also of any circumstances raising a presumption in favour of the due execution of the Will.

20. (1) Where in a Will, there is any obliteration, interlineation or other alteration which is not authenticated in the manner prescribed by law or by the re-examination of the Will or by the execution of a codicil, the Judge shall require evidence to show whether the alteration was present at the time the Will was executed and shall give directions as to the form in which the Will is to be proved:

Provided that this sub-rule shall not apply to any alteration which appears to the Judge to be of no practical importance.

(2) Where from any mark of the Will it appears to be Judge that some other document has been attached to the Will or if a Will contains any reference to another document in such terms as to suggest that it ought to be incorporated in the Will, the Judge may require the document to be produced and may call for such evidence in respect of the attachment or incorporation of the document as he may deem fit.

(3) Where there is doubt as to the date on which a Will was executed, the Judge may require such evidence as the deems necessary to establish the date.

 

21. Any appearance of attempted revocation of a Will by burning, tearing or otherwise and every other circumstance leading to a presumption of revocation by the testator, shall be accounted for to the satisfaction of the Judge.

22. The Judge may require an affidavit from any person he may deem fit for the purpose of satisfying himself as to any of the matters referred to in Rules 18, 20 and 21. In any such affidavit sworn by an attesting witness or other person present at the time of the execution of a Will, the deponent shall depose to the manner in which the Will was executed.

23. Where it appears to the Judge that there is prima facie evidence that a Will is on to which Section 9 of the Wills Act 1837 or any provision of the equivalent enactment in force in the State applies, the Will may be admitted to proof if the Judge is satisfied that it was made by the testator in accordance with the provisions of that section or enactment as the case may be.

24. Where evidence of foreign law is required on any application for a grant, the Judge may accept an affidavit from any person whom, having regard to the particulars of his knowledge or experience given in the affidavit, he regards as suitably qualified to give expert evidence of the law in question.

25. Where the deceased died after the commencement of this Order, the person or persons entitled to a grant of probate or administration with the Will annexed shall be determined in accordance with the following order of priority.
    (a) the executor;

(b) any residuary legatee or devisee holding in trust for any other person;

(c) any residuary legatee or devisee for life;

(d) the ultimate residuary legatee or devisee, including one entitled on the happening of any contingency or where the residue is not wholly disposed of by the Will, any person entitled to share in the residue not so disposed of the personal representative of any such person; Provided that:
unless the Judge otherwise directs, a residuary legatee or devisee whose legacy or devise is vested in interest shall be preferred to one entitled on the happening of a contingency; and where the residue is not in terms wholly disposed of, the Judge may, if he is satisfied that the testator has nevertheless disposed of the whole or substantially the whole of the estate as ascertained at the time of the application for the grant, allow a grant to be made subject to Rule 68 of this Order to any legatee or devisee entitled to, or to a share in the state so disposed of, without regard to the persons entitled to share in any residue not disposed of by the Will;

(e) any specific legatee or devisee or any creditor or, subject to sub-Rule 3 of Rule 59, the personal representative of any such person Or where the estate is not wholly disposed of by Will, any person who, notwithstanding that the amount of the estate is such that he has no immediate beneficial interest therein, may have a beneficial interest in the event of an accretion to it;

(f) any specific legatee or devisee entitled on the happening of any contingency, or any person having no interest under the Will who would have been entitled to a grant if the deceased had died wholly intestate.

 

26. (1) An application to join with a person entitled to a grant of administration, a person entitled in a lower degree shall, in default of renunciation by all persons entitled in priority to the later, be made to the Judge and shall be supported by an affidavit by the person entitled, the consent of the person proposed to be joined as personal representative and such other evidence as the Judge may require;

(2) An application to join with a person entitled to a grant of administration, a person having no right to it, shall be made to the Judge and shall be supported by an affidavit by the person entitled, the consent of the person proposed to be joined as personal representative and such other evidence as the Judge may require:

Provided that there may, without any such application be joined with a person entitled to administration; on the renunciation of all other persons entitled to join in the grant, any kin of the deceased having no beneficial interest in the estate;

(b) unless the Judge otherwise directs, any person whom the guardian of a minor may nominate for the purpose;

(c) a trust corporation.

 

27. Where the testator was blind or illiterate, the Judge shall not grant administration with the Will annexed, unless the Judge is first satisfied, by proof or by what appears on the face of the Will, that the Will was read over to the deceased before its execution or that the had at that time knowledge of its contents.

 

28. (1) The Judge, on being satisfied that the Will was duly executed, shall inspect it to see whether there are any interlineations, alternations, erasures, or obliterations appearing in it and requiring to be accounted for.

(2) Interlineations, alternations, erasures, and obliterations are invalid unless they existed in the Will at the time of its execution or unless, if made afterwards, they have been executed and attested in the mode required by the said enactments; or unless they have been made valid by the re-execution of the Will or by the subsequent execution of some codicil thereto.

(3) Where interlineations, alterations, erasures, or obliterations appear in the Will, unless duly executed or recited in or otherwise identified by the attestation clause, an affidavit in proof of their having existed in the Will before its execution shall be filed.

(4) Where no satisfactory evidence is adduced respecting the time when an erasure or obliteration was made and the words erased or obliterated are not entirely effaced, and can, on inspection of the Will, be ascertained, they shall form part of the probate. Where any words have been erased which might have been of importance, an affidavit shall be required.

 

29. (1) Where a Will contains a reference to any document of such a nature as to raise the question whether it ought or ought not to form a constituent part of the Will, the Judge shall require the production of the document, with a view to ascertaining whether or not it is entitled to probate; and if it is not produced, satisfactory account of its non production shall be given. A document cannot form part of a Will unless it was in existence at the time when the Will was executed.

(2) if there are vestiges of sealing wax or wafers, or other marks on the Will, leading to the inference that some document has been at sometime annexed or attached thereto, a satisfactory account of them shall be required, and if it is not produced, a satisfactory account of its non production shall be given.

 

30. Where a person appointed executor in a Will survives the testator but either dies without having taken probate or having without been called on by the Court to take probate and does not appear, his right in respect of the execution wholly ceases; and, further renunciation, the representation to the testator and the administration of his property may go and be committed as if that person had not been appointed executor.

 

31. Every Will in respect of which an application for a grant is made shall be marked by the signatures of the applicant and the person before whom the oath is sworn, and shall be exhibited to any affidavit which may be required under this Order as to the validity, terms, condition or date of execution of the Will:

Provided that where the Judge is satisfied that compliance with this Rule might result in the loss of the Will, he may allow a photocopy to be marked or exhibited in lieu of the original document.

 

32. In every case where evidence is directed or allowed to be given by affidavit, the Judge may require the personal attendance of the deponent if within jurisdiction, before the Court, to be examined viva voce respecting the content of his affidavit. The examination may take place before any affidavit has been sworn or prepared if the Judge deems fit.

 

33. (1) A Judge in granting Letters of Administration shall proceed as far as may be as in cases of probate.

(2) The Judge shall ascertain the time and place of the deceased’s death and he value of the property to be covered by the administration.

 

34. (1) The person to whom administration is granted shall give a bond with two or more responsible sureties to the satisfaction of the Judge. The bond shall affirm that the administrator shall be duly conditioned to collect, getting in and administering the personal property of the deceased.

(2) The Judge may if he deems fit take one surety only where the gross value of the estate does not exceed N250,000.00 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira) or where a corporation is proposed as a surety.

(3) The bond shall be in form of a penalty which is twice the sum value of the estate of the deceased unless the Judge deems it expedient to reduce the amount.

(4) The Judge may also in any case direct that more bonds than one shall be given , so as to limit the liability of any surety to such amount as the Court deems reasonable.

 

35. (1) The Judge shall not require a guarantee as a condition of making a grant where it is proposed to make it: by virtue of Rule 25(e) to a creditor or the personal representative of a creditor or to a person who has no immediate beneficial interest in the estate of the deceased but may have such an interest in the event of an accretion to the estate; under Rule 61 to a person or some of the persons who would, if the person beneficially entitled to the whole of the estate died intestate be entitled to his estate.
36. under Rule 63 to the attorney of a person entitled to a grant;
    b. under Rule 64 for the use and benefit of a minor;
    c. under Rule 66 for the use and benefit of a person who by reason of mental or physical incapacity is incapable of managing his affairs;
    d. to an applicant who appears to the Judge t be resident elsewhere than in the state; or
    e. except where the Judge considers that there are special circumstances making it desirable to require a guarantee.

(2) Notwithstanding that it is proposed t make a grant as aforesaid, a guarantee shall not be required, except in special circumstances, on an application for administration where the applicant or one of the applicants is the Administrator-General or a trust corporation.

(3) Every guarantee entered into by a surety for the purpose of the Order shall be in Probate Form 1 with such variations as circumstances may require.

(4) Except where the surety is a corporation, the signature of the surety on every such guarantee shall be attested by an authorized officer, commissioner for oaths or other person authorized by law to administer an oath.

(5) Unless the Registrar otherwise directs:
(a) if it is decided to require a guarantee, it shall be given by two sureties, except where the gross value of the estate does not exceed N250,000.00 ( two hundred and fifty thousand naira) or a corporation is a proposed surety, and in those case one will suffice;
(b) no person shall be accepted as a surety unless he is resident in the state;
(c) no officer of the judiciary shall be a surety;
(d) the limit of the liability of the surety or sureties under a guarantee shall be the gross amount of the estate as sworn on the application for the grant.
(e) every surety other than a corporation, shall justify his Eligibility.

(6) Where the proposed surety is a corporation, there shall be filed an affidavit by the proper officer of the corporation to the effect that it has power to act as surety and has executed the guarantee in the manner prescribed by its constitution and containing sufficient information as to the financial position of the corporation to satisfy the Judge that its assets as sufficient to satisfy all claims which may be made against it under any guarantee which it has given or is likely to give.

 

36. The Judge may, on being satisfied that the condition of the bond has been broken, assign to some person and that person may thereupon sue on the bond in his own name as if it had been originally given to him, and may recover thereon, as trustee for persons interested, the full amount recoverable in respect of any breach of the bond.

37. Any person claiming to be creditor or legatee or the next of kin or one of the next of kin of a deceased may apply for and obtained a summons from the Court requiring the executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the deceased to attend the Court and show cause why an order for the administration of the property of the deceased should not be made.

38. (1) On proof of service of the summons or on appearance of the executor or administrator, and on proof of all such other things as the Judge may direct, the Judge may, if he deems fit, make an order for the administration of the property of the deceased.

(2) The Judge may make or refuse any such order or give any special directions in respect of the carriage or execution of it and where there are applications for such an order by two or more different persons or classes of persons, to grant the same to such one or more of the claimants or classes of claimants, as the Judge deems fit.

(3) Where the Judge deems fit the carriage of the order may subsequently be given to such person, and on such terms, as he may direct.

39. Where the Judge makes such an order or at any time afterwards, he may, if he deems fit, make any further or other order which may appear requisite to secure the proper collection, recovery for safekeeping and disposal of the property or any part thereof.

40. In a case of intestacy, where the special circumstances of the case require, the Judge may, if he deems fit on the application of any person having interest in the estate of the deceased or of his own notion, grant Letters of Administration to an officer of the Court, to a Consular Officer or to a person in the Service of the Government.

41. (1) The officer or person so appointed shall act under the direction of the Judge, and shall be indemnified thereby.

(2) The Judge shall require and compel him to file in Court the accounts of his administration at intervals not exceeding 12 months.

42. Where a person has died intestate as to his personal estate or leaving a Will affecting personal estate, but without having appointed an executor thereof willing and competent to take probate or where the executor shall, at the time of the death of such person, be resident out of the jurisdiction, and it shall appear to the Judge to be necessary or convenient in any such case to appoint some person as administrator of the estate of the deceased or of any part thereof, the Judge may appoint such person as he shall deem fit t be such administrator upon his giving such security, if any, as the Judge shall direct, and every such administrator may be limited as the Judge shall deem fit.

43. The Judge may direct that any administrator (with or without the Will annexed) shall receive out of the personal and real estate of the deceased such reasonable remuneration as he shall deem fit not exceeding 5% per centum on the amount of the realized property, or when not converted into money, on the value of the property duly administered and accounted for by him:

Provided that where the Judge is satisfied that by reason of exceptional circumstances the administration of the property has required an extraordinary amount of labour to be bestowed on it, he may allow in respect of such property a higher rate of remuneration.

 

44. Where any citizen of any foreign Country dies within the jurisdiction without leaving within the jurisdiction a widower, widow or next of kin, the Probate Registrar shall collect and secure all moneys and other property belonging to the deceased, and shall then inform the nearest consular officer of such country of the death, and transmit to him a list of the money and property of the deceased.

 

45. Application may be made to the Court by any such Consular officer or by any person authorized by him in writing and under the consular seal, for leave to administer the estate of the deceased, and the Judge may make such order as to security for payment of debts and the method of administration as the Judge shall deem fit, and vary such order when and so often as it is expedient.

 

46. (1) Every person to whom a grant of probate or Letter Administration shall have been made, and every administrator appointed by the Judge shall, file in court the accounts of his administration every 12 months from the date of the grant or the appointment until the completion of the administration.

(2) Any executor or administrator who fails to file his accounts within the prescribed period as aforesaid shall be liable to a penalty of N50.00 (fifty naira) for every day of default.

(3) When an account is filed in Court under this Rule, the Judge shall scrutinize such account and if it appears to the Judge that by reason of improper, unvouched or unjustifiable entries or otherwise such account is not a full, and proper account, the Judge shall require the person filing the account to remedy reasonable for the purpose; and on failure to remedy such defects within such time, the person who filed such defective account shall be deemed to have failed to file an account within the meaning of this Rule and proceedings may be taken against such person accordingly.

(4) The Registrar shall bring to the notice of the Judge the fact that any executor or administrator has failed to file his accounts as required by this Rule.

(5) The Judge may, on the motion of any party interested, or suo motu, summon any executor or administrator failing as aforesaid, to show cause why he should not be punished.

(6) The Judge may for good cause shown extend the time for such filing or accounts.

(7) Any executor or administrator who has been granted an extension of time to file such accounts, and who fails within such extended time to file such accounts, shall be liable to the penalty set out above, and the procedure for bringing him before the court shall be as set out above.

(8) The accounts shall be open to the inspection of any person who satisfies the Registrar that he is interested in the administration.

(9) In this Rule, the word “accounts” shall mean and include an inventory, an account of the administration, the vouchers in the hands of the executor or administrator relating thereto and an affidavit in verification.

47. The Judge may refuse to entertain any application under Rule 2 of this Order if he considers that there has been unreasonable delay by the applicant in making the application.

48. The grant of Letters of Administration under this Order shall be signed by the Registrar on behalf of the Court.

49. II Probate (Non-Contentious) Procedure

In this Part, Rules 1,4,5,6,7,6,11,12,14,15,165,17,19,26, 27,28,29,30, 31. 71 (1) and 72 (1) or (4) of this Order shall also apply.

50. Every Legal Practitioner through whom an application for a grant is made shall give the address of his place of business within the jurisdiction.

 

51. (1) An applicant for a grant may apply in person.

(2) A personal applicant may not apply through an agent, whether paid or unpaid, and may not be represented by any person acting or appearing to act as his adviser.

(3) No personal application shall be received or proceeded with if:
(a) it becomes necessary to bring the matter before the Court by motion or by action;
(b) an application has already been made by a Legal Practitioner on behalf of the applicant and has not been withdrawn;
(c) the judge otherwise directs.

(4) After a Will has been deposited in the Registry by a personal applicant, it may not be delivered to the applicant or to any other person unless in special circumstances the Judge so directs.

(5) A personal applicant shall produce a certificate of the death of the deceased or such other evidence of the death as the Judge may approve.

(6) A personal applicant shall supply all information necessary to enable the papers leading to the grant to be prepared the Registry or may himself prepare such papers and lodge them unsworn.

(7) Unless the Judge otherwise directs, every oath, affidavit or guarantee requires of a personal application shall be sworn or executed by all the deponents or sureties before an authorized officer.

 

52. (1) The Judge shall not allow any grant to issue until all inquiries which he may deem fit to make have been answered to his satisfaction.

(2) The Judge may require proof of the identity of the deceased or of the applicant for the grant beyond those contained in the Oath.

(3) No grant of probate or of administration with the Will annexed shall issue within 3 months of the death of the deceased; and no grant of administration sworn by the application, and by such other papers as the Judge may require.

 

53. (1) Every application for a grant shall be supported by an oath in the form applicable to the circumstances of the case, which shall be contained in an affidavit sworn by the application, and by such other papers as the Judge may require.

(2) Unless otherwise directed by the Judge, the oath shall state where deceased was domiciled at the time of death.

 

54. Where it is necessary to describe the deceased in a grant by some name in addition to this true name, the applicant shall state in the oath the true name of the deceased and shall depose that some part of the estate, specifying it, was held in the other name; or as to any other reason that there may be for the inclusion of the other name in the grant.

 

55. (1) Where the Judge considers that in any particular case a photocopy of the original Will would not be satisfactory for purposes of record, he may require that an engrossment suitable for photo reproduction be lodged.

(2) Where a Will contains alternations which are not admissible to proof, there shall be lodged an engrossment of the Will in the form in which it is to be proved.

(3) Any engrossment lodged under this rule shall reproduce the punctuation, spacing and division into paragraphs of the Will and, if it is one to which sub-rule 2 of the rule applies, it shall be made bookwise on durable paper following continuously from page to page.

(4) Where any pencil writing appears on a Will, there shall be lodged a copy of the Will or of the pages or sheets containing the pencil writing in which there shall be underlined in red link those portions which appear in pencil in the original.

 

56. Where a gift to any person fails by reason of the fact that he is an attesting witness or the spouse of an attesting witness, such person shall not have any right to a grant as a beneficiary named in the Will, without prejudice to his right to a grant in any other capacity.

 

57. (1) Where all the persons entitled to the estate of the deceased under a Will have assigned their whole interest in the estate to one or more persons, the assignee or assignees shall replace in order or priority for a grant of probate the assignor or if there are two or more assignors, the assignors with the highest priority, in the absence of a proving executor.

(2) Where there are two or more assignees, probate may be granted with the consent of the others to any one or more but non-exceeding four of them.

(3) In any case where probate is applied for by an assignee, a copy of the instrument of assignment shall be lodged in the Registry.

 

58. (1) An application to add a personal representative shall be made to the Judge and shall be supported by an affidavit by the personal applicant, the consent of the person proposed to be added as personal representative and such other evidence as the Judge may require.

(2) On any such application the Judge may direct that a note shall be made on the original grant of the addition of a further personal representative, or he may impound or revoke the grant or make such order as the circumstances of the case may require.

 

59. (1) A grant may be made to any person entitled thereto without notice to other person entitled in the same degree.

(2) A dispute between persons entitled to a grant in the same degree shall be brought by application before the Judge.

(3) If an application under this rule in brought before the Judge, he shall not allow any grant to be sealed until such application is finally disposed of.

(4) Unless the Judge otherwise directs, administration shall be granted to a living person in preference to the personal representative of a deceased person who would, if living, be entitled in the same degree and to a person not under disability in preference to an infant entitled in the same degree.

 

60. (1) Nothing in Rules 57,60 or 62 shall operate to prevent a grant being made to any person to whom a grant may, or may require to be made under any enactment.

(2) The rules mentioned in the last foregoing paragraph shall not apply where the deceased died domiciled outside the state, except in a case to which the provisions of Rule 63 apply.

 

61. When the beneficial interest in the whole estate of the deceased is vested absolutely in a person who has renounced his right to a grant of administration with the Will attached and has consented to such administration being ranted to the person or persons who would be entitled to his estate if he himself had died intestate, administration may be granted to such person or one or more but not exceeding four of such persons:

Provided that s reviving spouse shall not be regarded as a person in whom the estate has vested absolutely unless he would be entitled to the whole of the estate, whatever its value may be.

 

62. Where the deceased was domiciled outside the state, the Judge may order that a grant should issue:
    (a) to the person entrusted with the administration of the estate by the Court having jurisdiction at the place where the deceased died domiciled;
    (b) to the person entitled to administer the estate by the law of the place where the deceased died domiciled;
    (c) if there is no such person as in mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of this rule or if in the opinion of the Judge the circumstances so require, to such person as the Judge may direct;
    (d) if a grant required to be made to, or if the Judge in his decription considers that a grant should be made to, not less than two administrators, to such person as the Judge may direct jointly with any such person as is mentioned in paragraph (a) or(b) of this rule or with any other person:
    Provided that without any such order as aforesaid: probate of any Will which is admissible to proof may be granted:
    (i) where the Will is in English or in the local language to the executor named therein;
    (ii) where the Will described the duties of a named person in terms sufficient to constitute hi executor according to the tenor of the Will, to that person;
    (b) where the whole of the estate in the state consists of immovable property, a grant limited thereto may be made in accordance with the law that would have been applicable if the deceased had died domiciled in the state.

 

63. (1) Where a person entitled to a grant resides outside the State, a grant may be made to his lawful attorney for his use and benefit, until such person shall obtain a grant or in such other way as the Judge may direct:

Provided that where the person so entitled is an executor, administration shall not be granted to his attorney without notice to the other executor, if any.

(2) Where the Judge is satisfied by affidavit that it is desirable for a grant to be made to the lawful attorney of a person entitled to a grant and resident in the State, he may direct the grant to be made to the attorney for the use and benefit of such person, until such person obtains a grant or in such other way as the Judge may direct.

 

64. (1) Where the person to whom a grant would otherwise be made is a minor, a grant for his use and benefit until he attains the age of 18 years shall subject to sub-rules 3 and 5 of this rule, be granted to both parents of the minor jointly or to any guardian appointed by a Judge ; or where there is no such guardian able and willing to act and the minor has attained the age of 16 years, to any next of kin nominated by the minor, or where the minor is a married woman, to any such next of kin or to her spouse if nominated by her.

(2) Any person nominated under sub-rule 1 (b) of this rule may represent any other minor whose next of kind he is, being a minor below the age of 16 years entitled in the same degree as the minor who made the nomination.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in this rule, administration for the use and benefit of the minor until he attains the age of 18 years may be granted to any person assigned as guardian by order of a Court in default of, or jointly with, or to the exclusion of any such person as is mentioned in sub-rule 1 of this rule; and such an order may be made on application by the intended guardian, who shall file an affidavit in support of the application and, if required by the Court, an affidavit of fitness sworn by a responsible person.

(4) Where a grant is required to be made to not less than two persons and there is only one person competent and willing to take a grant under the foregoing provisions of this rule, a grant may, unless the Judge otherwise directs, be made to such person jointly with any other person nominated by him as a fit and proper person to take the grant.

(5) Where a minor who is sole executor has no interest in the residuary estate of the deceased, administration with the Will attached for the use and benefit of the minor until he attains the age of 18 years shall, unless the Judge otherwise directs, be granted to the person entitled to the residuary estate.

(6) A minor’s right to administration may be renounced only by a person assigned as guardian under sub-rule 3 of this rule and authorized to renounce by the Judge.

 

65. (1) Where one of several executors is a minor, probate may be granted to the adult executors, with power reserved for making the like grant to the minor on this attaining the age of 18 years and administration for the use and benefit of the minor until he attains that age of 17 years and administration for the use and benefit of the minor until he attains the age of 18 years may be granted under Rule 64 only if the adult executors renounce or, on being cited to accept or refuse a grant, fail to make an effective application.

(2) A minor executor’s right to probate on attaining the age of 18 years shall not be renounced by any person on his behalf.

 

66. (1) Where the Judge is satisfied that a person entitled to a grant is by reason of mental or physical; infirmity incapable of managing his affairs, a grant for his use and benefit, during his incapacity may be made. In the case of mental incapacity, to the person authorized by the Judge to apply for the grant;
    where there is no person so authorized or in the case of physical incapacity:
    (i) if the person incapable is entitled as executor and has no interest in the residuary estate of the deceased, to the person entitled to such residuary estate;
    (ii) where the person incapable is entitled otherwise than a executor or is an executor having an interest in the residuary estate of the deceased, to the person who would be entitled to a grant in respect of his estate if he had died intestate; or to such other person as the judge may by order direct.

(2) Unless the Judge otherwise direct, no grant shall be made under this rule unless all persons entitled in the same degree as the person incapable have been considered and excluded.

(3) Where legal disability arises out of unsoundness of mind or insanity, notice of intended application for a grant under this rule shall, unless the Judge otherwise directs, be given to his guardian.

(4) Where there is physical disability notice of intended application for a grant under this rule shall unless the Judge otherwise directs be given to the person alleged to be incapable.

 

67. (1) Renunciation of probate by an executor shall not operate as renunciation of any right which he may have to a grant of administration in some other capacity unless he express renounces such right.

(2) Unless the Judge otherwise directs, no person who has renounced a grant in one capacity may obtain a grant in some other capacity.

(3) A renunciation of probate or administration may be retracted at any time on the order of the Judge:
Provided that only in exceptional circumstances may leave be given to an executor to retract a renunciation of probate after a grant has been made to such other person entitled in a lower degree.

 

68. Where the State is or may be beneficially interested in the estate of a deceased person, notice of intended application for a grant shall be given by the application to the Plateau State Attorney-General and the Judge may direct that no grant shall issue with a specified time after the notice has been given.

 

69. (1) An application for the resealing of probate or administration with the Will attached granted by a Court outside the State shall be made by the person to whom the grant was made or by any person authorized in writing to apply on his behalf.

(2) On any such application:

(a) an Inland Revenue Affidavit shall be lodged as if the application were one for a grant in the State.
(b) the application shall be advertised in such manner as the Judge may direct and shall be supported by an oath sworn by the person making the application.

(3) On an application for the resealing of such a grant: the Judge shall not require sureties except where it appears to him that the grant is made to a person or for a purpose mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (f) of Rule 35(1) or except where he considers that there are special circumstances making it desirable to require sureties;
Rules 35(2),(4), (5) ,(6) and 51 (4) shall apply with any necessary modifications; and a guarantee entered into by a surety shall be in probate Form 2 with such variation as circumstances may require.

(4) Except by leave of the Judge, no grant shall be resealed unless it was made to such a person as is mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of Rule 62 the rule or to a person to whom a grant could be made under a proviso to that rule.

(5) No limited or temporary grant shall be resealed except by leave of the Judge.

(6) Every grant lodged for resealing shall include a copy of any Will to which the grant relates or shall be accompanied by a copy certified as correct by or under the authority of the Court by which the grant was made.

(7) The Registrar shall send notice of the resealing to the Court which made the grant.

(8) Where notice is received in the Registry from outside the State of the resealing of a grant made in the State, notice of any amendment or revocation of the grant shall be sent to the Court by which it was sealed.

 

70. If a Judge is satisfied that a grant should be amended or revoked, he may make an order accordingly:

Provided that except in special circumstances no grant shall be amended or revoked under this rule except on the application or with the consent of the person to whom the grant was made.

 

71. (1) A notice to prohibit a grant of administration may be filed in Court.

(2) Any person who wishes to ensure that no grant is sealed without notice to himself may enter a caveat in the Registry.

(3) Any person who wishes to enter a caveat, in this rule called “ the caveator”, may do so by completing Probate Form 3 in the appropriate book at the Registry and obtaining an acknowledgement of entry from the proper officer, or by sending through the post at his own risk a notice in Probate Form 3 to the Registry in which he wishes the caveat to be entered.

(4) Where the caveat is entered by a Legal Practitioner on behalf of the caveators the name of the caveator shall be stated in Probate Form 4.

(5) Except as otherwise provided by this rule, a caveat shall remain in force for 3 months from the date on which it is entered and shall then cease to have effect, without prejudice to the entry of a further caveat or caveats.

(6) The Registrar shall maintain an index of caveats entered in the Registry and on receiving an application for an grant in the Registry he shall cause the index to be searched and shall notify the applicant in the event of any caveat having been entered against the sealing of a grant for which application has been made.

(7) The Registrar shall not allow any grant to be sealed if he has knowledge of an effective caveat in respect thereof:
Provided that no caveat shall operate to prevent the sealing of a grant on the day on which the caveat is entered.

(8) A warning in Probate Form 5 may issue from the Registry against a caveator at the instance of any person interested, in this rule called “the person warning”, which shall state his interest and, if he claims under a Will, the date of the Will, and shall require the caveator to give particulars of any contrary interest which he may have in the estate of the deceased; and every warning or a copy thereof shall be served on the caveator.

(9) A caveator having an interest contrary to that of the person warning may, within 8 days of service of the warning upon him inclusive of the day of such service; or at any time thereafter if no affidavit has been filed under sub-rule 12 of this rule, enter an appearance in the Registry by filing Probate Form 6 and making an entry in the appropriate book, and shall forthwith serve on the person warning a copy Probate Form 6 sealed with the seal of the Registry.

(10) A caveator who has not entered an appearance to a warning may at any time withdraw his caveat by giving notice at the Registry and the caveat shall then cease to have effect and if he has been warned, the caveator shall forthwith give notice of withdrawal of the caveat to the person warning.

(11) A caveator having no interest contrary to that of the person warning but wishing to show cause against the sealing of a grant to that person may, within 8 days of service of the warning upon him inclusive of the day of such service, or at any time thereafter if no affidavit has been filed under sub-rule 12 State the sub-rule of this rule, issue and serve a notice, which shall be returnable before the Registrar.

(12) If the time limited for appearance has expired and the caveator has not entered an appearance, the person warning may file in the Registry an affidavit showing that the warning was duly served and that he has not received a summons for directions under the last foregoing sub-rule, and thereupon the caveat shall cease to have effect.

(13) Upon commencement of a probate action the Probate Registrar shall, if a caveat is in force, other than a caveat entered by the plaintiff, give to the caveator notice of the commencement of the action and, upon the subsequent entry of a caveat at any time when the action is pending, shall likewise notify the caveator of the existence of the action.

(14) Unless the Judge otherwise directs:
(a) any caveat in force at the commencement of proceedings by way of citation or motion shall, unless withdrawn pursuant to sub-rule 9 state the sub-rule of this rule, remain in force until an application for a grant is made by the person shown to be entitled thereto by the decision of the Court in such proceedings, and upon such application any caveat entered by a party who had notice of the proceedings shall cease to have effect;
(b) any caveat in respect of which an appearance to a warning has been entered shall remain in force until the commencement of a probate;
(c) the commencement of a probate action shall whether or not any caveat has been entered, operate to prevent the sealing of a grant until application for a grant is made by the person shown to be entitled thereto by the decision of the Judge in such action, and up[on such application any caveat entered by a party who had notice of the action, or by a caveator who was given notice under sub-rule 13 state the sub-rule of this rule,
shall cease to have effect.

(15) Except with the leave of the judge, no further caveat may be entered by or on behalf of any caveator whose caveat has ceased to have effect under sub-rule 12 or 14 of this rule.

 

72. (1) Notice in the nature of citation shall be given in such manner as the Judge directs.

(2) Every citation shall be settled by the Registrar before being issued.

(3) Every averment in a d citation and such other information as the Registrar may require shall be verified by an affidavit sworn to by the person issuing the citation, in this Order called “ the citor”, or, if there are two or more citors, by one of them:
Provided that he Registrar may in special circumstances accept an affidavit sworn to by the citor’s Legal Practitioner.

(4) The citor shall enter a caveat before issuing a citation.

(5) Every citation shall be served personally on the person cited unless a Judge, on cause shown by affidavit, directs some other mode of service, which may include notice by advertisement.

(6) Every Will referred to in a citation shall be lodged in the Registry before the citation is issued, except where the Will is not in the citor’s possession and the Judge is satisfied that it is impracticable to require to be lodged.

(7) A person who has been cited to appear may, within 8 days of service of the citation upon him inclusive of the day of such service, or at any time thereafter if no application has been made by the citor under sub-rule 5 of Rule 35 or sub-rule2 of Rule 69 of this Order enter an appearance in the Registry by filing Probate Form 6 and making an entry in the appropriate book, and shall thereafter serve on the citor a copy of Form 5 sealed with the seal of the Registry.

 

73. (1) A citation to accept or refuse a grant may be issued at the instance of any person who would himself be entitled to a grant in the event of the person cited renouncing his right thereto.

(2) Where power to make a grant to an executor has been reserved, a citation calling on him to accept or refuse a grant may be issued at the instance of the executors who have proved the Will or the executors of the last survivor of the deceased executors who have proved.

(3) A citation calling on an executor who has intermeddled in the estate of the deceased to show cause why he should not be ordered to take a grant may be issued at the instance of any person interested in the estate at any time after the expiration of 6 months from the death of the deceased:

Provided that no citation to take a grant shall issue while proceeding as to the validity of the Will is pending.

(4) A person cited who is willing to accept or take a grant may apply ex parte to the Judge for an order for a grant on filing an affidavit showing that he has entered an appearance and that he has not been served by the citor with notice of any application for grant to himself.

(5) If the time limited for appearance has expired and the person cited has not entered and appearance the citor may:

1. in the case of a citation under sub—rule 1 of this rule apply to the Judge for an order for a grant to himself;
   b. in the case of a citation under sub-rule 2 state the sub-rule of this rule, apply to the Judge for an order that a note be made on the grant that the executor in respect of whom power was reserved has been duly cited and has not appeared and that all his or interest in respect thereof have ceased;
2. in he case of a citation under sub-rule 3 state sub-rule of this Rule, apply to the Judge by summons, which shall be served on the person cited, for an order requiring the person to take a grant within a specified time or for a grant to himself or some other person specified in the summons.

(6) Application under sub-rule 5 of this rule shall be supported by an affidavit showing that the citation was duly served and that the person cited has not entered an appearance.

(7) If the person cited has entered an appearance but has not applied for a grant under subrule 4 of this rule or has failed to prosecute his application with reasonable diligence, the citor may:
(a) in the case of a citation under sub-rule 1 of this rule, apply by summons to the Judge for an order for a grant to himself;
(b) in the case of a citation under sub-rule 2 of this rule, apply by summons to the Judge for an order striking out the appearance and for the endorsement on the grant of such a note as is mentioned paragraph (b) of sub-rule of this rule; in the case of a citation under sub-rule 3 of this rule, apply by summons to the Judge for an order requiring the person cited to take a grant within a specified time or for a grant to himself or some
other person specified in the summons; and the summons shall be served on the person cited in each case.

 

74. (1) A citation to propound a Will shall be directed to the executors named in the Will and to all persons interested thereunder, and may be issued at the instance of any citor having any interest contrary to that of the executors or such other persons.

(2) Where the time limited for appearance has expired, the citor may:
(a) where no person cited has entered an appearance, apply to the Judge for an order for a grant as if the Will were invalid:
(b) in the case of a citation under sub-rule 2 of Rule 73 of this Order apply by summons to the Judge for an order striking out the appearance and for endorsement on the grant of such a note as mentioned in paragraph (b) of sub-rule 5 of Rule 73 of this Order;
in the case of a citation under sub-rule 3 of Rule 73 of this Order apply by summons to the Judge for an order requiring the person cited to take a grant within a specified time or for a grant to himself or some other person specified in the summons;

 

75. All caveats, citations, warnings and appearances shall contain an address for service within the jurisdiction.

 

76. (1) An application for an order requiring a person to bring in a Will or to attend for examination may, unless a probate action has been commenced, be made to the Court by summons, which shall be served on every such persons as aforesaid.

(2) An application for the issue by the Judge of a subpoena to bring in a Will shall be supported by an affidavit setting out the grounds for the application, and if any person served with the subpoena denies that the Will is in his possession or control he may file an affidavit to the effect.

 

77. An application for an order for a grant limited to part of an estate may be made to the Judge and shall be supported by an affidavit stating:
    (a) whether the application is made in respect of the real estate any part thereof, or real estate together with personal estate, or in respect of a trust estate only; or any part thereof, or real estate together with personal estate, or in respect of a trust estate only;
    (b) whether the estate of the deceased is known to be insolvent;
    (c) that the persons entitled to a grant in respect of the whole estate in priority to the applicant have been considered and excluded.

 

78. An application for an order for grant of administration where the goods in the estate are of perishable nature may be made to the Judge, and shall be supported by an affidavit setting out the grounds of the application.
79. An application for leave to swear to the death of a person in whose estate a grant is sought may be made to the Judge and shall be supported by an affidavit setting out the grounds of the application and containing particulars of any policies of insurance effected on the life of the presumed deceased.

 

80. (1) An application for an order admitting to proof a codicil or a Will contained in a copy, a completed draft, a reconstruction or other evidence of its contents where the original Will is not available may be made to the Judge:

Provided that where a Will is not available owing to its being retained in the custody of a foreign court or official, a duly certified copy of the Will may be admitted to proof without any such order as aforesaid.

(2) The application shall be supported by an affidavit setting out the grounds of the application and by such evidence on affidavit as the applicant can adduce as to: the due execution of the Will;
its evidence after the death of the testator; and the accuracy of the copy or other evidence of the contents of the Will, together with any consent in writing to the application given by any person not under disability who would be prejudiced by the grant.

 

81. An application for an order for a grant of special administration where a personal representative resides outside the State shall be made to the Judge by a motion.

 

82. (1) Where a surviving spouse who is the sole personal representative of the deceased is entitled to a life interest in part of the residuary estate and elects to have the life interest redeemed, he may give written notice of the election to the Registrar by filing a notice in Probate Form 7 with such variations as circumstances may require.

(2) A notice filed under this rule shall be notice on the grant and the record shall be open to inspection.

 

83. (1) Where copies are required of original Wills or other documents deposited under the provisions of any written law such copies may be photocopies sealed with the seal of the Registry and issued as office copies and where such office copies are available copies certified under the hand of a Registrar to be true copies shall be issued only if it is required that the seal of the Court be affixed thereto.

(2) Copies, not being photocopies of original Wills or other documents deposited as aforesaid shall be examined against the documents of which they purport to be copies if so required by the person demanding the copy, and in such case the copy shall be certified under the hand of a Registrar to be a true copy and may in addition be sealed with the seal of the Court.

 

84. The Registrar may require any application under this Order to be made by motion or summons to a Judge.

 

85. (1) A Judge may direct that a notice of motion or summons for the service of which no other provision is made in this Order shall be served on such person or persons as the Judge may direct.

(2) Where by the provisions of this Order or by any direction given under sub-rule (i) of this rule a notice of motion or summons is required to be served on any person, it shall be served not less than 5 days, before the hearing of the motion or summons.

 

86. Unless the Judge otherwise directs or this Order provides, any notice or other document required to be given or served on any person may be given or served by leaving it at, or by sending it by courier to that person’s address for service, or if he has no address for service, his last known address.

 

87. Every affidavit used in non-contentious probate business shall satisfy the requirement of Order 33.

 

88. The provisions of Order 44 shall apply to the computation, enlargement and abridgement of time under this Order.

 

89. Subject in any particular case to any direction given by a Judge, this Order shall apply to any proceeding which is pending on the date on which these Rules come into operation as well as to any proceeding commenced on or after that date:

Provided where the deceased died before the commencement of these rules, the right to a grant shall, subject to the provisions of any enactment, be determined by the principles and rules in accordance with which the Court would have acted at the date of the death.

 

90. Suits in respect of probate shall be instituted and carried on as nearly as possible in the like manner and subject to the same rules of procedure as suits in respect of civil claims.

 

91. III Proceeding Generally

In probate actions, the originating process shall state whether the plaintiff claims as creditor, executor, administrator, beneficiary, next of kin or in any other capacity.

 

92. In probate actions service of a writ of summons may by leave of a Judge be allowed out of Nigeria.

 

93. In probate actions a party shall state with regard to every defence which is pleaded, what is the substance of the case on which it is intended to rely; and further where it is pleaded that the testator was not of sound mind, memory and understanding, particulars of any specific instances of delusion shall be delivered before the case is set down for trial and except by leave of a Judge no evidence shall be given of any other instances at the trial.

 

94. In probate actions where the plaintiff disputes the interest of the defendant, he shall allege in his statement of claim that he denies the defendant’s interest.

 

95. In probate actions te party opposing a Will may, with his defence, give notice to the party setting up the Will that he merely insists upon the Will being proved in solemn form of law and only intends to crossexamine the witnesses produced in support of the Will, and he shall thereupon be at liberty to do so and shall not in any event be liable to pay the costs of the other side unless the Judge finds that there was no reasonable ground for opposing the Will.

 

96. Every judgment or order for a general account of the personal estate of a testator or intestate shall contain a direction for any inquiry as to what parts of such personal estate are outstanding or undisposed of, unless the judge shall otherwise direct.

 

97. Where a person is or has been a party to any proceedings in the capacity of trustee, personal representative or mortgagee, he shall, unless the Judge otherwise orders be entitled to the costs of such proceedings in so far as they are not recovered from or paid by any other person out of the fund held by the trustee or personal representative or the mortgaged property, as the case may be; and the judge may otherwise order only on the ground that the trustee, personal representative or mortgagee has acted unreasonably or, in the case of a trustee or personal representative, has in substance acted for his own benefit rather than for the benefit of the fund.

 

98. The executors or administrators of a deceased person or any of them, and the trustees under any deed or instrument or any of them, and any person claiming to be interested in the relief sought as a creditor, beneficiary, next of kin, heir-at-law of a deceased person, or as Cestui que trust under the trust of any deed or instrument, or as claiming by assignment or administration otherwise under any such creditor or other person as aforesaid, may take out, an originating summons for such relief as listed hereunder as may be specified by the summons and as the circumstances of the case may require; that is, the determination without an administration of the estate or trust of any of the following questions or matters:
    (a) any question affecting the rights or interests of the person claiming to be creditor , beneficiary, next of kin, or heir-at-law or cestui que trust;
    (b) the ascertainment of any class of creditors, beneficiary, nect of kin, or others;
    (c) the furnishing of any particular accounts by the executors or administrators or trustees and the vouching, when necessary, of such accounts;
    (d) the payment into Court of any money in the hands of the executors or administrators or trustees;
    (e) directing the executors or administrators or trustees to do or abstain from doing any particulars act in their character as such executors or administrator or trustees;
    (f) the approval of any sale, purchase, compromise, or other transaction;
    (h) the determination of any question arising in the administration of the estate or trust.

 

99. Any of the persons named in Rule 98 state the rule of this Order may in like manner apply for any obtain an order for: the administration of the personal or real estate of the deceased; the administration of the trust; any act to be done or step t be taken which the Judge could have ordered to be done or taken if any such administration order as aforesaid had previously been made.

 

100. The persons to be served with the summons under Rules 98 state the Rules and 99 of this state the rules of this Order in the first instance shall be the following:
     Where the summons is taken out by an executor or administrator or trust for the determination of any question, under paragraph (a), (c), (f) or (g) of Rule 98 of the Order, the persons, or one of the persons, whose rights or interests, are sought to be affected; for the determination of any question, under paragraph (b) of Rule98 state the Rule of this Order any member or alleged member of the class;
     (c) for the determination of any question under paragraph (c) of Rule 98 state the Rule of this Order, any person interested in taking such accounts;
     (d) for the determination of any question under paragraph (d) of Rule 98 state the Rule of this Order, any person interested in taking such money:
     (e) for relief under paragraph (a) of Rule 99 state the Rule of this order, the residuary legatees, or next of kin, or some of them, or the residuary devisees, or heirs, or some of them, as the case may be;
     (f) for relief under paragraph (b) of Rule 99 state the Rule of this Order, the Cestui que trust or some of them;
     (g) if there are more than one executor or administrator or trustee and they do not all concur in taking out the summons, those who do not concur;
     (h) where the summons is taken out by any person other than the executors, administrators or trustees, the executors, administrators or trustees, or some of them must be served.

 

101. It shall not be obligatory on the Judge to pronounce or make judgment or order, whether on summons or otherwise for the administration of any trust or of the estate of any deceased person if the questions between the parties can be properly determined without such judgment or order.

 

102. Upon an application for administration or execution of trust by a creditor or beneficiary under a Will, intestacy, or deed of trust, where no accounts or insufficient accounts have been rendered, the Judge may, in addition to the powers already existing:
     order that the application shall stand over for a certain time, and that the executors, administrators or trustees in the mean time shall render to the applicant proper statement of their accounts, with an intimation that if this is not done they may be made to pay the costs of the proceeding; when necessary, to prevent proceedings by other creditors, or by person beneficially interested, make the usual judgment or order for administration with a proviso that no proceedings are to be taken under such judgment or order without leave of the Judge.

 

103. The issue of a summons under Rule 98 state the Rule of this Order shall not interfere with or control any power or discretion vested in any executor, administrator or trustee except so far as such interference or control may necessarily be involved in the particular relief sought.

 

104. Any of the following applications may be made by summons:
     an application for the appointment of a new trustee with or without a vesting or to the consequential order; an application for a vesting order or other order consequential on the appointment of a new trustee where the appointment is made by a Judge an application for vesting or other consequential order is any case where a judgment or order has been given or made for the sale, conveyance, or transfer of any land or stock or the suing for or recovering any chose in action; an application relating to a fund paid into Court in any case coming within the provisions of Rule 8 state the Rule of this Order.

 

105. (1) The provisions of the Interpretation Law shall apply to the interpretation of this Order.

(2) In this order, unless the context otherwise requires:-
“ authorized officer” means any officer of the Registry who is for the time being authorised by law to administer any oath or to take any affidavit  required for any purpose connected with his duties;
“gross value” in relation to any estate means the value of the estate without deduction for debts, encumbrances, funeral expenses or estate duty;
“oath” means the oath required by this Order to be sworn by every applicant for grant;
“personal applicant” means a person other than a trust corporation who seeks to obtain a grant without employing a Legal Practitioner, and
“personal application” has a corresponding meaning;
“Registrar” means the Probate Registrar;
“Registry” or “Probate Registry” means the Probate Registry of the Court;
“Will” includes a codicil and any testamentary document or copy or reconstruction of it;

(3) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Order to any rule or enactment shall be construed as a reference to that rule or enactment as amended, extended or applied by any other rule or enactment.

 

 

ORDER 52 – RECEIVERS

1. (1) An application for the appointment of a receiver may be made by motion on notice.

(2) An application for an injunction ancillary or incidental to an order appointing a receiver may be joined with the application for such order.

(3) Where the applicant wishes to apply for the immediate grant of such an injunction, he may do so ex-parte on affidavit in an appropriate case.

(4) The Court hearing an application under paragraph (3) may grant an injunction restraining the party beneficially entitled to any interest in the property of which a receiver is sought from assigning, charging or otherwise dealing with that property pending the hearing of a summons for the appointment of a receiver and may require such a summons, returnable on such date as the Court may direct, to be issued.

 

2. (1) Where a judgment is given, or order made, directing the appointment of a receiver, then, unless the judgment or order otherwise directs, a person shall not be appointed a receiver in accordance with the judgment or order until he has given security in accordance with this rule.

(2) Where, by virtue of paragraph (1), or any judgment or order appointing a person named therein to be receiver, a person is required to give security in accordance with this rule, he shall give security approved by the Court duly to account for what he receives as a receiver and to deal with it as the Court directs.

(3) Unless the Court otherwise directs, the security shall be by guarantee or, if the amount for which the security is to be given does not exceed two thousand naira, by an undertaking.

(4) The guarantee or undertaking shall be filed in the Court registry.

 

3. A person appointed a receiver shall be allowed such proper remuneration, if any, as may be fixed by the Court.

 

4. (1) A receiver shall submit account to the Court at such intervals or on such cases as the Court may direct in order that they may be passed.

(2) Unless the court otherwise directs, each account submitted by a receiver shall be accompanied by an affidavit verifying it. The receiver’s account and affidavit (if any) shall be left at the Registrar’s office, and the plaintiff or party having the conduct or the cause or matter shall thereupon obtain an appointment for the purpose of passing such account.

(3) The passing of a receiver’s account shall be certified by the Registrar.

 

5. The days on which a receiver shall pay into Court the amount shown by his account as due from him, or such part thereof as the Court may certify as proper to be paid in by him, shall be fixed by the Court.

 

6. (1) Where a receiver fails to attend for the passing of any account of his, or fails to submit any account, make any affidavit or do any other thing which he is required to submit, make or do, he and any or all of the parties to the cause or matter in which he was appointed may be required to attend in Chambers to show cause for the failure, and the Court may, either in Chambers or after adjournment into Court, give such directions as it thinks proper including if necessary, directions for the discharge of the receiver and the appointment of another and the payment of costs.

(2) Without prejudice to paragraph (1), where a receiver fails to attend for the passing of any account of his or fails to submit any account or fails to pay into court on the date fixed by the Court any sum shown by his account as due from him, the Court may disallow any remuneration claimed by the receiver in any subsequent account and may, where he has failed to pay any such sum into court, charge him with interest at the rate of ten per centum per annum on that sum wiled in his possession as a receiver.

 

ORDER 53 – APPEALS FROM DISTRICT COURT, ETC

1. Every appeal shall be brought by notice of appeal which shall be lodged in the lower court within 30 days of the decision appealed from and served on all other parties affected by the appeal within that period.

 

2. (1) The notice of appeal shall set out the reference number of the proceedings in which the decision complained of was given, the names of the parties, the date of such decision and the grounds for appeal in full.

(2) Where the appellant complains only of a part of the decision, the notice of appeal shall specify the part complained of; otherwise the appeal shall be taken to be against the decision as a whole.

(3) The notice of appeal shall give an address within the Judicial Division in which is situated the lower Court appealed from, to which notices may be sent for the appellant, and such notices may be sent to him by registered post.

(4) The notice of appeal shall be in form 107 in the Appendice and may be varied to suit the circumstances of the case but so that no variation of substance shall be made.

 

3. The Registrar of the lower Court shall, within three months of the decision appealed from, prepare as many certified copies of the proceedings required for the consideration of the appeal as here are parties on record. Save where the fees for repairing such copies are remitted, a deposit decided upon by the Registrar as likely to cover such fees, shall be made by the appellant before the preparation of such copies.

 

4. The Registrar of the lower court shall within 7 days of repairing the copies aforesaid send the same to the Registrar of the Court in the Judicial Division in which the lower courts situated, and the appeal shall be decided by the Judge of that Division.

 

5. When notifying a part of the day fixed for the hearing of the appeal, the Registrar of the Court shall send him a copy of the proceedings.

 

6. The times prescribed in rules 1 to 4 may be enlarged at any time by the Court of such terms (if any) as may seem fit, after notice given to the respondent by the appellant of his application for enlargement of time.

 

7. Where the time available to the appellant for the taking of any step has expired before such step has been taken or completed, the respondent may, on notice to the appellant, apply to the court to strike out the appeal, and the Court may strike out, or enlarge time for sufficient reason shown.

 

8. All civil appeals from lower courts ahsll be heard by not less than two Judges of the court.

 

9. The appeal shall come on for hearing at such time and at such place as the Registrar of the Court shall notify to the parties.

 

10. (1) If, on the day of hearing or any adjournment of the case, the appellant does not appear, the appeal shall be struck out and the decision shall be affirmed, unless the Court thinks fit for sufficient cause, to order otherwise.

(2) If in any such case the respondent appears, the judgment shall be with costs of the appeal against the appellant. unless the Court expressly order otherwise but if the respondent does not appear, the costs of the appeal shall be in the discretion of the Court.

 

11. If, on the day of hearing and at any adjournment of the case, the appellant appears, the Court shall, whether the respondent appears or not proceed to the hearing or further hearing and determination of the appeal and shall give judgment according to the merits of the case without regarding any imperfection or defect of form:

Provided that if it appears or is proved to the court that the appellant has not complied with the requirements precedent to the hearing of an appeal hereinbefore contained, the Court shall dismiss the appeal and confirm the decision, with or without costs of appeal against the appellant.

 

12. On the hearing, it shall not be competent for the appellant to go into any other reasons for appeal than those set forth in his notice of grounds for appeal:
    Provided that where, in the opinion of the court, other grounds for appeal than those set forth in the memorandum of grounds for appeal should have been given, or the statement of grounds of appeal is defective, the court, in its discretion, may allow such amendments of the memorandum of grounds for appeal upon such conditions as to service upon the respondent and as to costs as it may think fit.

 

13. (1)The respondent may give notice that he intends at the hearing to ask the Court to confirm the judgment of the lower Court on grounds other than those stated by that court.

(2) The notice shall be accompanied by a clear statement of the grounds on which the respondent intends to ask the Court to confirm the judgment of the lower court.

(3) such notice and grounds shall be filed in Court within 14 days of service on the respondent of the notice and grounds for appeal, and shall be served on the appellant or his legal practitioner.

 

14. (1) The respondent may file grounds for appeal against any part of the judgment of the lower court.

(2) Such grounds shall be filed by the respondent within 14 days of service on him of the appellant’s notice and grounds for appeal, and shall be served on the appellant or his legal practitioner before the hearing.

 

15. (1) No objection on account of any defect in the form of setting forth any ground for appeal shall be allowed, unless the Court is of opinion that the ground of appeal is so imperfectly or incorrectly stated as to be insufficient to enable the respondent to enquire into the subject matter thereof or to prepare for the hearing.

(2) In any case where the Court is of opinion that any objection to any reason for appeal ought to prevail, the Court may, if it thinks fit, cause the reason for appeal forthwith to be amended upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the court may think just.

 

16. On any appeal from a decision of a lower Court, no objection shall be taken or allow to stay proceeding in such Court for any defect or error which might have amended by that Court, or to any complaint, summons, warrant, or other process to or of such Court for any alleged defect therein in substance or in form, or for any variance between any complaint or summons and the evidence adduced in support thereof in such court:

Provide, however, that if any error, defect or variance mentioned in this rule appears to the Court at the hearing of any appeal to be such that the appellant has been hereby deceived or misled, it shall be lawful for the Court either to refer the case back to the lower Court with directions to re-hear and determine the same or to reverse the decision appealed form, or to make such other order for disposing of the case as justice may require.

17. No objection shall be taken or allowed, on any appeal, to any notice of appeal which is in writing or to any recognizance entered into under this Order for the due prosecution of such appeal for any alleged error or defect therein, but if any such error or defect appears to the court to be such that the respondent on such appeals has been thereby deceived or misled, it shall be lawful for the Court to amend the same and, if it is expedient to do so, also to adjourn the further hearing f the appeal, the amendment and the adjournment, if any, being made on such terms as the court may deem just.

18. The Court may, in any case where it may consider it necessary that evidence should be adduced, either: order such evidence to be adduced before the court on some day to be fixed in that behalf; or refer the case back to the lower court to take such evidence, and may in such case either direct the lower court to adjudicate afresh after taking such evidence and subject to such directions in law, if any, as the Court may think fit to give, or direct it, after taking such evidence, to report specific findings of facts for the information of the Court, and on any such reference the case shall, so far as may be practicable and necessary, be dealt with as if it were being heard in the first instance.

19. (1) When additional evidence is to be taken by the lower court and specific findings of fact reported, it shall certify such evidence to the Court which shall thereupon proceed to dispose of the appeal.

(2) The appellant or his legal practitioner shall be present when the additional evidence is taken.

(3) Evidence taken in pursuance of rule 18 shall be taken as if it were evidence taken at the trail before the lower Court.

(4) When forwarding to the court any additional evidence taken by a lower court in pursuance of rule 18, the lower Court may express its opinion on the demeanour of the witnesses and of the value of their evidence and may also, it is the same court against whose decision the appeal has been made, state whether or not it would have come to a different decision had the additional evidence been brought forward at the trial.

 

20. The fees in the First Schedule shall be chargeable in civil appeals save where the same would have to be paid by a Government Officer acting in his official capacity or where the lower court or the Court waives or remits the same on the ground of the poverty of the person changeable therewith where it appears that there are substantial grounds of appeal.

 

21. Allowances may be made t witnesses in accordance with provision of the Third Schedule.

 

22. (1) On application being made for stay of execution under any enactment establishing the lower court, the lower court or the court:

that the appellant shall deposit a sum fixed by the court not exceeding the amount of the money or the value of the proper affected by the decision or judgment appealed from, or give security to the satisfaction of the court for the said sum; that the appellant shall deposit a sum equal to the amount of the costs allowed against him or give security to the satisfaction of the court against for the said sum; that the appellant shall, where the decision or judgment appealed from relates to possession of lands or houses, give security to the satisfaction of the court for the performance of the decision or judgment in the event of the appeal being dismissed; that the appellant’s property shall be seized and attached pending the making of a deposit or the giving of security as aforesaid, including a deposit or security for the expenses incidental to the seizure and attachment; that the appellant’s property shall be seized, and attached and sold and the net proceeds deposited in court pending determination of the appeal.

(2) Any order made on any such application shall limit the time (not being more than thirty days) for the performance of the conditions imposed, and direct that in default of such performance within the time so limited execution may issue or proceed.

(3) An application for stay of execution under the enactment establishing the lower court may be made at any time after lodgment of the notice of appeal and shall in the first instance be made to the lower Court:

Provided that where execution has been ordered by the court the application shall not be made to the lower Court but to the court.

(4) The application may be ex-parte but the Court may direct notice thereof to be given to the other party to the appeal. Where an order is made ex parte the Registrar or the Court shall notify the other party of the order made.

(5) Where the appellant proposes to give security instead of making a deposit, the application shall state the nature of the security and the name of the surety proposed (if any).

(6) Any party dissatisfied with an order made by the lower Court may apply to the Court by motion (original or interlocutory, as the case may require) with notice to the other party for a review of the order, and the court may thereupon make such order as may seem just.

(7) An appeal shall not operate as a stay of execution under the decision or judgment appealed from except so far as the lower court or the Court may order; and no intermediate act or proceeding shall be invalidated except so far as either court may direct.

 

23. The Court may make such order as to the payment of costs by or to the appellant as it may deem to be just and such order may be made also in any case where an appeal has not been entered into or prosecuted.

 

24. (1) The Court may, in special circumstances, upon application on notice by motion (original or interlocutory as the case may require), supported by affidavit, order the appellant to deposit such sum or give such security as may deem fit for the respondent’s costs of appeal including the costs incidental to the application.

(2) The order shall limit the time ( not exceeding thirty days) within which the deposit or security shall be made or given and may direct that in default of its being made or given within the time so limited the appeal shall without further order stand dismissed.

(3) Where an appeal so stands dismissed the respondent shall be entitled to all reasonable costs occasioned by the appeal and the amount of such costs may be stated in the order in anticipation or may be assessed at any time by the Court of its motion or on application made ex parte or on notice, as the Court may, seem fit.

(4) Where an appeal so stands dismissed the appellant shall take no further step or proceeding therein, save by leave of the Court for reinstatement of the appeal, which may be granted on such terms (if any ) as may seem fit upon application by motion on notice given within a month of such dismissal (but not otherwise).

(5) Subject and without prejudice to the discretion of the Court to grant costs where it seems proper on an application made under paragraph (1), costs shall not normally be granted to the applicant save where the net proceeds of execution levied on the appellant’s goods are insufficient to satisfy the amount payable under the judgment or decision appealed from.

 

25. (1) When a case is decided on appeal the Court shall certify its judgment or order to the lower court in which the decision appealed against was pronounced.

(2) The lower court to which the court certifies its judgment or order shall thereupon make such orders as are conformable to the judgment or order of the Court, and , if necessary, the records shall be amended in accordance therewith.

 

26. After the pronouncement of the judgment of the Court, the lower Court from which the appeal came shall have the same jurisdiction and power to enforce, and shall enforce, any decision which may have been affirmed, modified amended, or substituted by the Court or any judgment which may have been pronounced by the Court, in the same manner in all respects as if such decision or judgment had been pronounced by itself.

27. Any order given or made by the Court may be enforced by the Court or by the lower Court as may be most expedient.

28. The Court may, if it deems fit, enlarge any period of time prescribed by this order.

29. In this Order:
    “ the lower court” means the Court whose judgment is appealed against, and includes District Court, but does not include an Area Court, arbitrator, a referee or an auditor, “ judgment” includes an order or a ruling.

ORDER 54 – APPEALS TO THE HIGH COURT FROM THE DECISIONS OF AUDITORS

1. This Order shall apply to any appeal to the Court from a decision of an auditor made under the provisions of any written law which confers the right to appeal to the High Court against any such decision.

2. An appeal to the Court from a decision of an auditor shall be by notice of motion.

3. The evidence upon the hearing of the appeal shall be by affidavit except in so far as the court at the hearing may direct oral evidence to be given.

4. The notice of motion shall be served, before the expiration of six weeks after the date of the decision to which it relates, upon the auditor in charge of the audit in respect of which the decision has been made and also upon the local government or other body in relation to whose accounts or to the accounts of whose officer the decision was given, if that local government or other body is not the appellant.

5. The notice of motion shall state the grounds of appeal, and the date mentioned in the notice for the hearing of the appeal shall be not less than twenty-eight days after the service on the notice.

6. (1) The appellant shall within seven days after service on the auditor of the notice of motion, file with the Registrar a copy of such notice and an affidavit or affidavits setting out the reasons stated by the auditor for his decision and the facts upon which the appellant intends to rely at the hearing and thereupon the motion shall be set down for hearing.

(2) If the notice of motion is not set down in accordance with this provision, either the local government or other body or the auditor may apply to the court, upon notice to the appellant, for an order discharging the notice of motion and for the costs of the application.

7. The appellant shall deliver forthwith to the local government or other body and to the auditor a copy of any affidavit filed under rule 6 state the Rule in support of the motion and any person intending to oppose the motion shall, four days at least before the hearing, deliver to the appellant a copy of any affidavit intended to be filed by him in position to the motion.

8. Where under rule 4 state the Rule notice of motion is served on an auditor other than the auditor who gave the decision, that auditor may appear in opposition thereof in all respects as if he were the auditor by whom the decision was given, and these provisions shall apply accordingly.

ORDER 55 – PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE LEGITIMACY LAW

1. In this Order “petitioner” means a person applying for a legitimacy declaration, and “petition” has a corresponding meaning.

2. The practice and rules of the Court shall so far as practicable govern all proceedings under the Legitimacy Law, subject nevertheless to the particular provisions of this Order.

3. (1) A petition shall be headed “ In the matter of the Legitimacy Law” and “In the matter of – ( the person to be declared legitimated)”, and shall be according to the prescribed form, with such variations and addition as the circumstances may require, and shall state among other matters:- the place and date of the marriage concerned; the status and residence of each of the parents and the occupation and domicile of the father of the person whose legitimacy the Court is asked to declare:-
   (i) at the date of his birth; and
   (ii) at the date of the marriage
   (c) whether there are living other issues of the parents of such person as foresaid and the respective names and dates of the birth of all such issues;
   (d) the person (if any) affected by the legitimation of such person as aforesaid and the value so far as is known of the property (if any) thereby involved;
   (e) where any and if so what previous proceedings under the Legitimacy Law, or otherwise with reference to the paternity of such person as aforesaid, or the validity of the marriage leading to his legitimation have been taken in any Court;
   (f) that there is no collusion.

(2) A petition shall also include an undertaking by the petitioner (if not an infant or person of unsound mind) to pay the costs of the respondents if the Court shall so direct.

(3) If the petitioner is an infant or person of unbsound mind, he shall petition by a next friend and the full names, occupation or description, and residence or place of business, of the next friend shall be stated in the petition and there shall be lodged by him with the petition an undertaking to be responsible for costs.

4. If the petitioner does not reside in the State, the petition shall state an address within the State at which the petitioner may be served with any summons, notice, order of Court or other process.

5. Where it appears on the presentation of a petitioner that the petitioner does not reside in the State, the petition shall not be filed until security for costs, by deposit of money or otherwise, has been given to the satisfaction of the Registrar:

Provided that where the petition is filed through a legal practitioner, an undertaking by him, in form to be approved by the Registrar, to be responsible for the costs, shall be sufficient.

6. The respondents to a petition shall be the Attorney-General of the State and all persons whose interest may be affected by the legitimacy declaration asked for, and the Court may at any time direct any persons not made respondents to be made respondents and to be served with the petition and affidavit, and may adjourn the hearing of the petition for that purpose on such terms as to costs or otherwise as may be just.
7. The petition shall be accompanied by an affidavit made by the petitioner, or by his next friend (if any) verifying the facts of which he has personal knowledge and deposing as to his belief in the truth of the other facts alleged in the petition, and the affidavit shall be filed with the petition.

8. (1) There shall be filed with the petition as many copies of the petition and the affidavit as there are respondents to be served and also two copies for the use of the court.

(2) There shall be lodged with the petition every birth, death or marriage certificate intended to be relief upon at the hearing.

9. (1) A copy of the petition and a copy of the affidavit shall be delivered or sent by registered post by the petitioner to the Attorney- General at least two months before the petition is presented or filed.

(2) Any document or notice addressed to the Attorney-General shall be addressed to him at Attorney-General’s Chambers, Ministry of Justice, Jos.

10. (1) A sealed copy of the petition and affidavit shall, unless the court otherwise directs, be served by a bailiff or by a police constable fifty-six days at least before the hearing on every respondent (other than the Attorney-General) personally and the petition and every copy to be served on a respondent (other than the Attorney-General) shall be endorsed with a notice in the prescribed form.

(2) At least fifty-six days notice of the day whereon the petition will first be heard shall be given by the Registrar to the Attorney-General.

11. (1) A respondent may within twenty-eight days after service of the petition upon him file and answer to the petition.

(2) Every answer which contains matter other than simple denial of the facts stated in the petition shall be accompanied by an affidavit made by the respondent verifying such other matter as far as he has personal knowledge thereof, and deposing to his belief in the truth of the rest of such matter.

(3) There shall be filed with the answer as many copies of the answer and the affidavit (if any) as there are other parties to be served and also two copies for the use of the court.

(4) The Registrar shall within forty-eight hours of receiving them send by post one sealed copy of the answer and the affidavit (if any) to the petitioner, the Attorney-General, and any other respondents.

12. Evidence on the hearing of the petition shall be given orally:

Provided that the Court or a Judge in Chambers may, on application made before or at the hearing, for good cause shown, direct that any particular fact or facts alleged in the petition or answer may be proved by affidavit.

13. The Court may make such orders as to costs as it shall think just.
14. A copy of the order made on the hearing of a petition sealed with the seal of the Court shall be supplied by the Registrar to any party to the proceedings on payment of the prescribed fee.