INTERPRETATION OF STATUTES AND THE RETROSPECTIVE APPLICATION OF THE FOURTH ALTERATION ACT NUMBER 21, 2017 BY THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This  paper  examines  the  provisions  of  the Fourth  Alteration  Act  No.  21  2017  which  amended  section  285 CFRN 1999,  against  the  back  drop  of  the  interpretation  given  by  the  Supreme  Court  and  its  application  to  cases commenced prior to the commencement of the Act. It gives a historical overview of the Fourth Alteration Act No. 21 2017  and  also  examined  the  major  rules  of  interpretation  to  ascertain  which  of  these  rules  was  adopted  by  the Court. The paper takes the position that the Supreme Court’s decision cannot  be  justified  under  known  rules  of interpretation,  is  not  in  consonance  with  common  sense  or the  notion of  justice,  particularly  where  the  provisions did not specifically provide for such retrospective application. The paper recommends that Public interest litigation should  be  taken  up,  and  sponsored  by  civil  rights  and  liberties  organisations  with  a  view  to  getting  the  Supreme Court to depart from its current approach of retrospective application of the provisions of the Fourth Alteration Act No.  21  2017,  while  he  Supreme  Court  should,  at  the  earliest  opportunity  presented  to  it,  depart  from  its  current stand on the retrospective application of the provisions of the Fourth Alteration Act No. 21 2017.