From the deputy editor-in-chief

• Date: 06 February 2019

FROM THE DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The late Deji Sasegbon, Esq., SAN, was a consummate teacher who was passionate

about transferring and sharing knowledge. What he taught me was priceless and

enabled me to step into his unique mind and hopefully complete the Judicial Dictionary

of Nigerian Law in the way and manner he envisaged.

Sasegbon’s Judicial Dictionary of Nigerian Law is the result of extensive research

and academic judgement. It is reliable, suitably contemporary and complete, as well

as duly representative of the language it seeks to define. This latest contribution

from the late Sasegbon was started and developed with immense learning weaved

into a composition of grace and artistry. It was indeed a great honour and privilege to

lead the team that eventually finished this project. It was a privilege to have worked

with the late Sasegbon on this project and to have been taught the intricacies of legal

publishing by the LEARNED SILK.

Sasegbon’s Judicial Dictionary of Nigerian Law is particularly important in statutory

analysis, which seeks to find a sort of ‘objectified’ intent—the intent that will help a

researcher to have a much better understanding of the text of the law. In all legislation,

there is the potential for words and phrases to create uncertainty, which can only be

resolved by judicial interpretation; Sasegbon’s Judicial Dictionary of Nigerian Law

provides multiple meanings to words and phrases intended to capture the wide breadth

of possible usage. With Sasegbon’s Judicial Dictionary of Nigerian Law, readers

are met with comprehensive definitions of key terms drawn from both case law and

subsidiary legislation as opposed to using external sources of understanding.

Sasegbon’s Judicial Dictionary provides a practical, efficient and reliable reference

tool for all categories of users, be they from the legal field, international body, academia

and tertiary institutions of higher learning, officers, merchants and people in the

commercial world or lay readers. I know of no similar publication that can bear any

comparison with it for the rich variety of valuable information that it condenses into

seven volumes. Its usefulness, however, is by no means limited to definitions, as it

comprises both legal definitions and principles.

To the gentlemen of the bar, this publication will be peculiarly valuable, as in cases

where a statutory provision lacks clarity. I have no doubt that this publication will

make a permanent and important advancement in our understanding of legal research

and legal drafting.

Ehi Eric Esoimeme, Esq., LLB (Unilag), BL., ICA. (Manchester),

LLM. (Cardiff), PhD in View (Unilag)