Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Fourth Alteration) Acts, 2017
Annotated alteration evidence — page 51
- Jurisdiction
- Nigeria
- Provision
- 51
- Source language
- English
- Recorded status
- in force
More details
- Recorded status
- in force
Provision text
Official sourceadministering authority before that authority makes the decision
affecting that person; and
(b) contains no provision making the determination of the
administering authority final and conclusive.
(3) The proceedings of a court or the proceedings of any tribunal
relating to the matters mentioned in subsection (1) of this section
(including the announcement of the decisions of the court or
tribunal) shall be held in public.
(4) Whenever any person is charged with a criminal offence, he
shall, unless the charge is withdrawn, be entitled to a fair hearing in
public within a reasonable time by a court or tribunal:
Provided that -
(a) a court or such a tribunal may exclude from its proceedings
persons other than the parties thereto or their legal practitioners
in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public
morality, the welfare of persons who have not attained the age
of eighteen years, the protection of the private lives of the
parties or to such extent as it may consider necessary by reason
of special circumstances in which publicity would be contrary to
the interests of justice;
(b) if in any proceedings before a court or such a tribunal, a
Minister of the Government of the Federation or a Commissioner
of the Government of a State satisfies the court or tribunal that it
would not be in the public interest for any matter to be publicly
disclosed, the court or tribunal shall make arrangements for
evidence relating to that matter to be heard in private and shall
take such other action as may be necessary or expedient to
prevent the disclosure of the matter.
(5) Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be
presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty:
Provided that nothing in this section shall invalidate any law by
reason only that the law imposes upon any such person the burden
of proving particular facts.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Updated with the First, Second , Third and Fourth Alterations 45
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Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Fourth Alteration) Acts, 2017 · placng.org · Retrieved 18 August 2026.
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