EVIDENTIAL VALUE OF HEARSAY EVIDENCE UNDER THE NIGERIAN EVIDENCE ACT,2011

Evidential Value of Hearsay Evidence

TABLE OF CONTENTSTitle Page ………………………………………………………………………. IDeclaration……………………………………………………………………. IICertification………………………….……………………………………..… IIIDedication ……………………………………………………………………. IVAcknowledgement …………………………………..……………………..…. VTable of Contents …………………………………………………………… VIITable of Cases ……………………………………………………………..…. XTable of Statutes …………………………………………………………… XIIIList of Abbreviations …………………………………………………...…..XIVCHAPTER ONEGeneral Introduction…………………………………………………………..11.1Background of the study ………………………………..……………….21.2Statement of Problem ……………………………………………………31.3Significance of the Study ……………………………………………….. 31.4Aims and Objective ………………………………………...……………31.5Scope and Limitations ……………………………..…………………… 41.6Research Methodology …………………………….…………………… 41.7Literature Review ………………………………………………………..41.8Organizational Layout…………………………………………………. 10CHAPTER TWOMeaning and Nature of Evidence…………………………….…………….... 151.0Introduction……………………..……….…………………………….. 152.1Meaning of evidence ……………………………..…………………… 152.2Development of the law of evidence ….............................……………. 242.3 Classification of Evidence ……….………………………..………….. 382.4Conclusion ………………………..…………………….…………….. 49vii CHAPTER THREEAppraisal of Hearsay Evidence ………………………………………………503.0Introduction……………………………………………………....……. 503.1Concept of hearsay evidence…………………………...……………… 513.2Scope of hearsay evidence …………………………………………….. 703.3Qualification of hearsay evidence ……………………...……………... 803.4 Conclusion …………………………...……………………….……….. 84CHAPTER FOURAdmissibility of Hearsay Evidence ……………………….………………… 854.0Introduction ………………………………………………………….... 854.1Admissibility and Weight of Evidence of hearsay evidence………..4.1Exceptions to Hearsay Evidence ………………………………..…….. 854.2 Conclusion …………………………………………………………… 125CHAPTER FIVESummary, Recommendation and Conclusion…………………….…...…. 1265.0Summary …………………………………...……..………………….. 1265.1 Recommendation …………………………………………..………….1275.2Conclusion ………………………….………………………..………..128viii TABLE OF CASESAchoru V. Attorney- General of Bendel State1 (1990) 7 NWLR pt. 160 92… 60Adekia V. Vaatia (1987) 1 NWLR 134…………….………….……….………….. 62Amels Transport Ltd V. Madam Atinuke Martin (1971) 1 NLR 21……...…….. 62Amobi V. Amobi (1996) 42 LRCN…………….…………………..……………117Anaeze V. Anyazo (1993 5 SCNJ 151 at 156) ………………………….……… 29Andrews V. Cordiener 1947) K.B. 655. …………………………………………. 116Anthony Okoro V. State (2012) 4 NWLR, pt. 1290, 351……………..………….. 98Armels Transport Ltd V. Martin (1970) All N.L.R. 27………… …………….117Awuse V. Odili (2005) 16 NWLR (pt. 952) 416 CA…………………….…… 11, 67Barclays Bank of Nigeria V. Central Bank of Nigeria1976)6 S.C. 175….. 121Barewa Pharmaceutical Ltd V. F.G.N 2016) 17NWLR pt. 1540 ……………..120Barkway V. South Wales Transport Ltd (1949) 1K.B. 54 at 60….…………….118Chandrasekera V. R (1937) AC 220…………………………………………….... 101David, Mark V. Usman Abubakar (2009) NWLR pt. 1124, 79…………….…. 63Edmonds V. Edmonds(1947)P.67 at 69…………………………………………. 118Ekpoisong V. State (2009) 1 NWLR pt. 11122, 354 at 368………………...….. 95Eme V. Wamouh (1991) 7 NWLR pt. 203, 375. ……………………………….…111Ezemba V. Ibeneme (2004) 14 NWLR pt. 894 ……………………………………. 49F.B.N V. Asawari (2015) NWLR pt. 1463………………….……………..………. 66F.R.N. V. Usman (2012) 8 NWLR pt. 1301………………..……………………… 67Garba V. Queen (1959) 4 F.S.C 162………………………………………..…… 97Hausa V. the State (1994) 7-8 SCNJ pt. 1, 1...…………………………………… 96Hon Justice Ankara V. Hon Justice Egbue (2013) 10 SCM 178………...…… 30I.N.E.C V. Action congress (2009)2 NWLR pt. 1126 ………………………. 28, 62Jacob V. A-G Akwa Ibom State (2002)7 NWLR pt. 765…………………….….. 23 Jilayemi V. Alaoye (2004) 12 NWLR pt. 887………………………...….………. 661ix Jolayemi V. Alaoye (2004) 12 NWLR (pt. 887) 322 SC…...……………….……. 13Junga v R (1952) AC 480……………..………………………………….…………68Kashi V. State (2015) 8 NWLR 1464. ………….…………………….….…………79Lilley V. Pettit (1946) K.B. 401…………………………………………………… 116Maigari V. State (2010) All FWLR pt.546)……………………………….………46Maja (junior) and Sons Limited V. United Africa Company of Nigeria (1971) 1NMLR 157………………………………………………………………………….… 33Mawaz Khan V. R (1967) 1 AC. 454 (P.C.).……...……………….……………. 72Momo Garba & Another V. R (1959) 4 FSC 162 at 165. …………...………….. 93Myers V. DPP (1991) II SCNJ 19……………………………………………...… 55Nwobodo V. Onoh (1983) NSCC 470 ……………………………………….……. 21Ogbunyiya and Others V. Okudo and Others (1979) All N.L.R 105.2..........…. 21Ojiako V. State (1991) 2 NWLR pt. 175, 578 at 584……………..………….… 60Okereocha V. Ministry of Commerce and Tourism (2001) 1 NWLR (pt. 693) 126CA…………………………………………………………………………….……….. 12Omoboriowo V. Ajasin (1984)1 S.C 1………………………………………….... 21Onya V. Ogbuji (2011) All FWLR Pg. 597……………………………………….. 37Onyioha V. Union Bank Ltd (1993) 5 NWLR pt. 296, 698 ……………………..27 Patel v Comptroller of Customs (1965) 3 All ER 593……….…………………..67Privy Council in Subramanian V public prosecutor (1956) 1 W.L.R 965… 3,59………………………………………………………………………………………., 72R V. Adiaha Nwa Ikpe (1960)5 F.S.C 180. ……….…………………………….. 121R V. Anwuna (1949) 12 WACA 456…………………….………………………… 51R V. Baker (1837) 2M. & Rob.53…………………………………….………….. 89R V. Bedingfield (1879) 14 Cox 341 ……………………………….………..…… 29R V. Gibson (1887) 18 QBD 537……………..…………………………………… 55.R V. Hutchinson 2B&C 605………………………………………………………. 88R V. Itule (1961)2 SCNLR 183 at 186 ……………………………………..……… 26R V. Kearley (1992) 2 AC 228 at 245. …………………………………………83x R V. Mead (1824) 2 B&C 605. …………………………….………………………..88R V. O’Brien (1978) 1SCR 591. ……………………………………………..…… 105R V. Ogbuewu (1949) 12 WACA 483…………………………………………….. 93R V. Perry (1909) 2K.B. 697. …………………………………………………….. 91R V. Pike (1829) 3 C&P 598. ……………………………………………………100R V. Rogers (1959) LLR 97. ……………………………………………………… 104R V. Sang (1980) ac 402 ………………………………………………………….. 31R V. Scaife (1836) 2 Lewin 150. ………………………………………..………. 100R V. Taoridi Lawani (1959) L.L.R 57. …………………………………….…. 103R V. Woodcock (1789)1 Leach, 500 at 502……………………………………… 90 R. Dodson (1984) 79 Crim R 220. ………..……………………………………….78Ratten V. R. (1972) AC. 378 (P.C.) ……………………………..………………… 75Re Magillivra (1946) 2 All E.R 301…………………………………..……………112Simpson V. Lever ( 1963) 1 Q.B. 517…………………………………………… 117Sparks V. R (1954) AC 964…………………………………………….………… 65Sugden V. Lord St. Leonard’s (1876) IP.D. 154 …………………………..…..112Sylvester Utteh V. State (1992) 2 SCNJ pt. 183………..……………………… 60Tenywa v Uganda (1967) EA 102. ………………………………………………… 69Teper V. R (1952) AC 480………………………………………………………. 75, 81 The Military Governor of Ondo State and another V. Adewumi (1988)3 NWLRpt.82 ……………………………………………………………………………………. 22Ukpo V. Imoke (2009) 1 NWLR 1121,90……………………………………...… 55Utteh V. State (1992) 2 NWLR pt.223 ……………………………..…..…………. 28Wahab Aigbotosho V. Governor of Oyo State & Ors (2004) 14 NWLR pt.894……………………………………………………………………………………… 48Yakubu V. State (1980) All NLR 138……………………………………….……. 47Zimit V. Mohammed (1993)1 NWLR pt. 262…………………………………..… 24xi TABLE OF STATUTESCivil Evidence Act 1968 ………………………………………….…..….. 24, 58Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) 1999 ……………………...………. 37, 38Constitution of Nigeria 1963 ………………………………….…..…..25, 26, 27Constitution of Nigeria 1979 ………………………………………………… 28English Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 ………………………….….36Evidence Act Cap 112 Laws of Federation 1990 ….…………………….. 25, 85Evidence Act Cap 62 Laws of Federation 1968 …….……………………….. 25Evidence Act Cap E14 Laws of the Federation 2011 ……………... 31,32,34,35,36, 37, 40, 45, 48, 51, 55, 56, 57, 58, 76, 77, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 93, 94, 98, 100,103, 105, 107, 111 112, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 120, 122 124, 126, 127, 128Evidence Act Cap E141 2004 Laws of Federation …………………………... 25Evidence Act of 1943 ……………………………………………………. 31, 32Evidence Ordinance ………………………………………………….. 24, 25, 26Land Instrument Registration Law of Eastern Nigeria ………………………. 33 Magistrate Court Ordinance 1943 ……………………………………………. 24Ordinance No. 45 1943 …………………………….……………………….... 24Protectorate Court Ordinance 1933 ……………….………………………..... 24Provincial Court Ordinance 1914 …………………………….……………… 24xii LIST OF ABBREVATIONSALL N.L.R All Nigerian Law ReportsCh. Chancery Law ReportsCh.D Chancery Division Law Reporte.g. ExampleIbid IbidemN.M.L.R Nigerian Monthly Law Report N.S.C.C. Nigeria Supreme Court Cases N.W.L.R Nigerian Weekly Law Report No. Number K.B Kings Bench Report Ltd Limited Anor. Another Cap. Chapter A.C. Appeal Cases Paras ParagraphsPt. Part PW1 Prosecution Witness one QB Queens Bench Report Vol. Volume S.C Supreme Court S.C.N.L.R Supreme Court of Nigerian Law Report 2nd Second Supra Above W.A.C.A. West African Court of Appeal W.L.R. Weekly Law Report Op cit opera citato (Latin - means the same with reference) Ors Others