Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999
Official source page 91
- Jurisdiction
- Nigeria
- Provision
- 91
- Source language
- English
- Recorded status
- in force
More details
- Recorded status
- in force
Provision text
Official source(2) The appointment of a person to the office of a Judge of a High Court of a State shall be made by the Governor of the State acting
on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.
(3) A person shall not be qualified to hold office of a Judge of a High Court of a State unless he is qualified to practice as a legal
practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for a period of not less than ten years.
(4) If the office of Chief Judge of a State is vacant or if the person holding the office is for any person unable to perform the
functions of the office, then until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office, or until the person
holding the office has resumed those functions, the Governor of the State shall appoint the most senior Judge of the High Court to
perform those functions.
(5) Except on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council an appointment pursuant to subsection (4) of this section shall
cease to have effect after expiration of three months from the date of such appointment and the Governor shall not re-appoint a
person whose appointment has lapsed.
272. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 251 and other provisions of this Constitution, the High Court of a State shall have
jurisdiction to hear and determine any civil proceedings in which the existence or extent of a legal right, power, duty, liability,
privilege, interest, obligation or claim is in issue or to hear and determine any criminal proceedings involving or relating to any
penalty, forfeiture, punishment or other liability in respect of an offence committed by any person.
(2) The reference to civil or criminal proceedings in this section includes a reference to the proceedings which originate in the High
Court of a State and those which are brought before the High Court to be dealt with by the court in the exercise of its appellate or
supervisory jurisdiction.
273. For the purpose of exercising any jurisdiction conferred upon it under this Constitution or any law, a High court of a State shall
be duly constituted if it consists of at least one Judge of that Court.
274. Subject to the provisions of any law made by the House of Assembly of a State, the Chief Judge of a State may make rules for
regulating the practice and procedure of the High Court of the State.
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B - Sharia Court of Appeal of a State
275. (1) There shall be for any State that requires it a Sharia Court of Appeal for that State.
(2) The Sharia Court of Appeal of the State shall consist of -
(a) A Grandi Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal; and
(b) such member of Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of the State.
276. (1) The appointment of a person to the office of the Grandi Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of a State shall be made by the
Governor of the State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to confirmation of such appointment by the
House of Assembly of the State.
(2) The appointment of a person to the office of a Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of a State shall be made by the Governor of
the State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.
(3) A person shall not be qualified to hold office as a Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of a State unless -
(a) he is a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for a period of not less than ten years and has obtained a recognised
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Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 · nass.gov.ng · Retrieved 18 August 2026.
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