Terms of the Republic
16 entries- Federal Character
- Constitutional requirement (CFRN §14(3)) for equitable representation from all states in federal appointments.
- Gross Misconduct
- Under CFRN §188(11) and §143(11): grave violation of the Constitution, bribery, corruption, or false declaration of assets — the ground for impeachment.
- Nolle Prosequi
- The Attorney-General's discretionary power under CFRN §§174 and 211 to discontinue any criminal proceedings instituted by them or against any other person.
- Doctrine of Necessity
- Resolution of the National Assembly, 9 February 2010, empowering Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to act as President during the incapacitation of President Yar'Adua. Not in the Constitution; politically binding.
- Quasi-Federalism
- Descriptor of Nigeria's actual fiscal architecture: constitutional federalism with concentrated federal revenue-control through the Federation Account, NNPC and customs receipts.
- Federation Account
- CFRN §162. The pool into which all federally collected revenue (minus VAT and personal income tax on FCT residents) is paid, for monthly distribution to the three tiers of government.
- Locus Standi
- The right of a party to bring an action before a court. In constitutional litigation, considerably broadened post-Gani Fawehinmi v. Akilu (1987).
- Stare Decisis
- The doctrine of binding precedent. Decisions of the Supreme Court are binding on every court in the Federation.
- Decree
- Pre-1999 instrument of military legislation. Functionally equivalent to an Act of Parliament; under the regime that issued it, superior even to the Constitution then in force.
- Edict
- Pre-1999 state-level instrument of military legislation, the state equivalent of a Decree.
- Code of Conduct Bureau
- Established by CFRN 5th Schedule, Part I. Receives asset declarations from public officers; refers contested matters to the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
- Public Officer
- Defined in CFRN 5th Schedule, Part II. Includes the President, VP, Governors, deputies, ministers, members of the National Assembly, judges, civil servants from CONTISS 7+, and many statutory officers.
- Concurrent Legislative List
- CFRN 2nd Schedule, Part II. Matters on which both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly may legislate.
- Exclusive Legislative List
- CFRN 2nd Schedule, Part I. 68 items reserved for the National Assembly alone. Devolution debate centres on this list.
- Reserved Matters
- Items not on either legislative list. Residual to the States by virtue of CFRN §4(7).
- Forfeiture
- Court-ordered loss of property either as proceeds of crime (s. 7, ACJA 2015) or under specific statutes (EFCC Act, ICPC Act). Interim, final, and non-conviction-based forfeiture each have distinct procedures.
Methodology
Tier 1 · primary
Courts. Gazettes. National archives.
Tier 2 · corroborating
OCCRP. HRW. BudgIT. TheCable.
Redline
Wikipedia is never a source.