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ON WHETHER DEMEANOUR PER SE DETERMINES CREDIBILITY OF WITNESS

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Demeanour refers to the outward conduct, behaviour, attitude, and manner of a witness while giving evidence before a court of law. It includes how a witness speaks, responds to questions, reacts under cross-examination, and generally presents themselves in the witness box. In judicial proceedings, demeanour is observed by the trial judge as part of the process of assessing credibility; however, it is not determined by appearance alone but is considered alongside the substance, consistency, and reliability of the evidence given. Demeanour is tenuous and fluid, hence, can be misleading and can sometimes be subjective. Therefore, where the evidence of the witness before the court centers on an account of events or incidents which the witness claim to have witnessed, more objective yardsticks such as the distance between the witness and the location of the incident witnessed, the hour of the day ,the state of lighting at the location, the likely motive of the witness and wheth...
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Call for Articles & Poetry – Solace Magazine (3rd Edition)

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The Media and Publicity Directorate of Solace Chambers, Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano,  invites members to submit original articles, legal opinions and poems for publication in the upcoming 3rd Edition of the Solace Magazine. Submission guidelines are as follows:  - Must be original, AI-free content and not previously published on any publishing website. - Must be submitted in doc format. - All submissions must include: Full Name, Level, Phone No, and Professional Headshot. - All entries to be sent to solacebuklaw@gmail.com with the subject line: “ Solace Magazine 3.0 Submission ”. - Word Count (For Articles & Opinions): Simple Articles: 450–700 words WHILE  FOR In-Depth Articles Articles: 900–1,200 words  (subject to directorate’s approval) - Line Count (for Poetry): Minimum: 12–18 lines & Maximum: 28–32 lines Submisssion Deadline:  10TH JANUARY, 2026 . For enquiries and sponsorship: CONTACT: 07034731185 , 09063653547
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ON CONSENSUAL NATURE OF ARBITRAL PROCEEDINGS AND NEED FOR PARTIES TO ABIDE BY ARBITRAL AWARDS.

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Arbitral awards are not the usual or ordinary decisions/judgments delivered by the ordinary or normal courts established by Law, but outcomes of proceedings and decisions by people or institutions freely and voluntarily chosen specifically by the parties in the course of their agreements/contracts that are fiduciary in nature, to, in the event of any dispute arising from such relationship in which, very often,time is of essence, expeditiously and with relative ease,settle it conclusively to bind them. The case involves an appeal against the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on 22nd July, 2020, refusing the appellants application for dismissing the judgement of the High Court on the contention that the arbitral tribunal lacks the to grant the awardand rightly recognised the arbitral award.The Supreme Court in an unanimous decision allowed the appeal and affirmed the decision of the two lower courts. NICON INSURANCE LIMITED V.BRIGHTHOUSE ESTATE LIMITED (2025)8 NWLR ...
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EFFECT OF AN INCOMPLETE RECORD OF APPEAL: A REVIEW OF DADA V. YANDAYI (2025) 8 NWLR (PT. 1993) 517

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An incomplete record of appeal is a fatal defect that prevents the appellate court from hearing the case and often leads to the appeal being struck out, regardless of it’s merits. Lawyers must therefore ensure that every necessary document is included, as failing to do so can destroy a client’s chances of justice.

 It goes without saying that a record of appeal is the appellate court’s roadmap. It is the formal compilation of documents and proceedings from the lower court that the appellate court uses to determine whether the lower court’s decision was correct. 
 A record of appeal contains the judgment appealed against, the pleadings, proceedings, exhibits, and the proposed notice of appeal, etc.; and it determines what the appellate court can review. Thus, an incomplete record can deprive the court of the material needed to decide the appeal and may lead to dismissal, striking out, or remittal for completion depending on the circumstances. 
 One of the most fundamental r...
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3RD ANNUAL LEGAL QUIZ & DEBATE COMPETITION

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SOLACE CHAMBERS, FACULTY OF LAW, BAYERO UNIVERSITY KANO Presents 3RD ANNUAL LEGAL QUIZ & DEBATE COMPETITION It’s another year of sharp arguments, fast thinking, and unmatched legal brilliance! Solace Chambers proudly presents the 2024/2025 Legal Quiz & Debate Competition — an annual intellectual event designed to sharpen legal reasoning and deepen substantive and procedural knowledge of law. EVENT DETAILS Date: Wednesday, 10th December 2025 Time: 2:00 PM Venue: Theatre II Debate Topic: “Right of Appeal Under Section 241(2) of the 1999 Constitution: Which Interpretation Reflects the Drafters' Intent?” Quiz Segment: A rigorous test covering key areas of Nigerian law: Commercial law, Equity & Trust, Mu'amalat and Islamic law of tort, Constitutional law, Nigerian legal system, Law of contract, Introduction to Shariah, Legal Method, LegaI Ethics and Civil & Criminal Procedure Join us for a thrilling session of constitutional debate, analysis, and academic excellence....
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SOLACE CHAMBERS ANNUAL SHOWCASE 2024/2025 ACADEMIC SESSION

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SOLACE CHAMBERS ANNUAL SHOWCASE 2024/2025 ACADEMIC SESSION You're invited to the premier celebration of excellence, learning, and legacy — the Solace Chambers Annual Showcase. True to our tradition of innovation and capacity-building, this year’s Showcase brings together enriching sessions, exhilarating competitions, and inspiring highlights that reflect the very best of Solace Chambers, as always. EVENT HIGHLIGHTS 1. Legal Quiz & Debate Competition Join us as our distinguished members engage in topical constitutional debate and test their substantive and procedural knowledge of law. 2. Mediation and Negotiation Competition Get exposed to the world of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as our partners engage in mediation and negotiation proceedings and role plays. 3. Mock Trial Competition: Battle of the Titans Level up your knowledge of civil and criminal procedural knowledge as our partners engage in a fierce legal Battle of Titans. 4. All-Female Moot Competition Witness ho...
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A CRITICAL ANALYSIS ON THE EFFECT OF NO CASE SUBMISSION

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A submission of no case to answer by a defendant means that even if the court believes the evidence adduced so far by the prosecution , there is no sufficient material on which the court can convict.
 No case submission, as the word implies means, a motion made by the defence counsel in a criminal trial, arguing that the prosecution has failed to present enough evidence to prove its case. If the judge agrees with the defence counsel, the case will be dismissed in its entirety and if the judge denies the motion, the proceeding continues.
 Generally, at the stage where a no case submission is made,particularly where counsel indicates an intention to rely on same, what is to be considered by the court is not whether the evidence produced by the prosecution against the accused is sufficient to justify a conviction, but whether the prosecution has made out a prima facie case requiring at least some explanation from the accused person as regards his conduct or otherwise.
 This ha...
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