DOHERTY V. BALEWA

• Pages: 248-261

248

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NIGERIAN SUPREME COURT CASES

[1961] N.S.C.C.

DOHERTY V. BALEWA.

SENATOR CHIEF T. ADEBAYO DOHERTY



PLAINTIFF

V

SIR ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA

(Prime Minister of the Federation)



DEFENDANTS

WESTERN NIGERIA DEVELOPMENT

CORPORATION



PLAINTIFFS

V

SIR ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA

(Prime Minister of the Federation)

& ORS



DEFENDANTS

SUIT NO. FSC 326/1961

FEDERAL SUPREME COURT.

ADEMOLA,



C.J.F.

MBANEFO,



C.J.E.R.

BRETT,



F.J.

UNSWORTH,



F.J.

TAYLOR,



F.J.

27th October, 1961.

Constitutional Law - Powers of Federal Parliament to legislate for entire Federation

- Constitution of the Federation 1960, Schedule, Parts I, II, and III - Specific

Powers - Ancillary Legislation - Matters incidental to Subject Matter of

Legislation - Matters incendental to execution of an Existing Power - Constitution

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30

of the Federation, 1960, Schedule, The Legislative Lists, Part I, Items 44(a),

44(b); Part III, Item 1(d) - Commissions and Tribunals of Enquiry Act, 1961,

(1961, No. 26), section 3(1) - Validity within Federal Territory - Validity

throughout the Federation - Commissions and Tribunals of Enquiry Act 1961

section 8(c) - Provisions for arrest to compel attendance of witnesses - Validity

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35

within the Federal Territory - Commissions and Tribunals of Enquiry Act

1961, sections 8(d), 15(a), 18(1)(b) - Provisions for Imprisonment by Order of

the Commissioners and for fines or Imprisonment by their Order - Validity

within the Federal Territory - Constitution of the Federation 1960, Section 20

- Ancillary Power - Interference with Fundamental Human Rights independently

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40

of power to which it is incidental - Validity within the Federal Territory -

Constitution of the Federation, 1960, Section 20 - Constitutional Law

-

Commissions and Tribunal of Enquiry Act, 1961, Section 3(4) - Prohibition

against court Enquiry into Commission or any action of Prime Minister in

relation thereto - Validity within the Federal Territory - Constitution of the

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45

Federation, 1960, Sections 21, 31, 108.

Words and Phrases - "Commission of Inquiry" - "Tribunal of Enquiry".

ISSUES:

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50

1.

Whether the Federal Parliament has power to legislate for the whole of the

Federation.

2.

Whether Ancillary Legislation must come within the rules relating to matters

incidental to the subject matter of legislation.

5

10

15

20

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