DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE EVIDENCE OF A HOSTILE WITNESS IN TRIALS DONE BY WAY OF FRONTLOADING OF EVIDENCE IN CHIEF: AN EXAMINATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE EVIDENCE ACT, 2011

Abstract

The  problems  created by  the  evidence  of  hostile  witnesses  are  as  old  as  the  commencement  of adversarial  system  of  litigations  and  varies  in  their  impacts  from  jurisdiction  to  jurisdiction  in accordance with the provision of the rules of evidence and procedure in  each jurisdiction. It is more rampant in criminal trials where conviction may mean the death of the defendant or other harsh  punishments.  Civil  trials  are,  however,  not  spared  the  appearance  and  impact  of  hostile witnesses. The laws as to the examination of witnesses inNigeria are found in the Evidence Act, 2011.  There  is  no  sufficient  provision  as  to  how  a  litigant  in  a  civil  trial  under  the  regime  of frontloaded evidence-in-chief would beset with a hostile witness can afflict the evidence of such witness hence this work which its purpose is to expose the lacuna and suggest solutions.