Historical Context The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) served as the highest court of appeal for British colonies, including the Anglophone African countries of Nigeria, Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast), Sierra Leone, and The Gambia, from the 19th century until their independence and subsequent abolition of appeals. Appeals from these territories were heard…

The evolution of legal systems in West Africa is a complex and diverse process, shaped by indigenous traditions, colonial influences, and post-independence reforms. Key phases and influences: 1. Pre-Colonial Legal Systems (Before the 19th Century) Customary Law: West African societies were governed by customary legal systems rooted in local traditions, cultural norms, and community values.…

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) served as the highest appellate court for British colonies and, post-independence, for several Commonwealth nations until appeals were abolished in these countries (Nigeria and Ghana in the 1960s, Sierra Leone in 1971, and Gambia in 1998). During the colonial era and early independence periods, the JCPC heard…

INTRODUCTION The West African Court of Appeal (WACA) was a colonial judicial institution established by the British to serve as the primary appellate court for their West African territories, including Nigeria, the Gold Coast (now Ghana), Sierra Leone, and the Gambia. It was first created in 1867 to handle appeals from British possessions in western…