THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE IN NIGERIA: EVALUATION OF THE GENERAL LIABILITY AND IMMUNITY AFFORDED ON LEGAL PRACTITIONERS IN THE CONDUCT OF THEIR CLIENT’S CASE

This paper reviews the legal practitioner’s professional negligence in Nigeria and the rule of law exempting lawyers from liability for negligence in the conduct of proceedings in court, tribunal or other body. The introduction reminds us of the historical development of the legal profession. It examines the concept of professional negligence which involves misconduct or malpractice in the course of practicing one’s profession. The law places more responsibility on the professional in the exercise of judgment. Therefore the standard of care expected of a professional is high. The general rule is that a legal practitioner can be held liable for professional negligence. He may also be found guilty of professional misconduct or malpractice where he contravenes any of the rules of professional conduct. However, there exists a law in Nigeria that grants immunity to legal practitioners from negligent acts in the conduct of their client’s case. This paper explores the origin of the lawyer's immunity. It argues that the exemption granted lawyers in respect of court proceedings does not help the fallen standards of the legal profession in Nigeria. As a result, there is a general consensus among writers as to the removal of the immunity clause. Therefore, this paper examines the various advocates for the removal of the lawyer’s immunity and suggests a reconsideration for its possible removal. This paper concludes with a recommendation for a more pragmatic approach to maintaining the standards of the Legal Profession. The term professional negligence is used interchangeably with professional misconduct or malpractice.

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE FRAMEWORK FOR BUILDING A PRO BONO CULTURE AMONG LEGAL PRACTITIONERS IN NIGERIA

Pro bono legal services are professional services rendered by lawyers or other legal experts1 to indigent and disadvantaged litigants in the society for the public good id est, in order to promote a just and equitable society. It is a subset of the principle of equal access to justice and is based on the assumption that the poor requires but cannot access justice because they lack the financial means. Using the doctrinal approach, this discourse assesses the existing legal and administrative framework for pro bono engagement by lawyers in Nigeria with a view to identifying areas of improvement. Having identified possible areas of improvement, recommendations are proffered on legislative and administrative measures towards improving the level of engagement in pro bono legal services by legal practitioners in the country.

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY DUTSE, JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA

The study assesses the Psychological Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Students’ Academic Performance of Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria. The population of the study comprises of the total number of undergraduate students in Federal University Dutse (FUD) which is 10,710 of both male and female. While the sample size of the study was based on Research Advisor (2006) table, which is 370 respondents. Simple Random Cluster Sampling was used for this study. However, after the data was collected, it was analyzed and interpreted using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 21) computer software program. Primary data were mainly obtained using structural questionnaire. The specific objectives are as follows; to: determine the Psychological Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Students’ Academic Performance of FUD, identify the relationship between COVID-19 Pandemic and Students’ academic performance of FUD and determine the Challenges militating against Students’ Academic Performance during COVID-19 Pandemic of Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria. The collected data for the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics i.e. frequency distribution and percentages. The study covered regular FUD undergraduate students, thus, postgraduate students, IJMB students, remedial and others were delimited. The research is significant which could serve as a document and a guide to government policy makers, National Universities Commission etc, a guide for those who want to study psychological effects of COVID-19 pandemic on student academic performance especially in Nigerian Universities and provides some vital information on psychological effects of COVID-19 pandemic on Students’ academic performance of Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria. Result revealed that 79% as a majority of the respondents agreed that Covid-19 Pandemic has Psychological Effects on Students’ Academic Performance of Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria. The research if published will be significant to provide a way out for Students’ Academic Performance during Pandemic. The following recommendations have been made as: government should provide available and effective e-learning programmes, effective and functional entrepreneurships must be provided in University and other institutions, therefore, the study also recommended for further study.

RIGHTS TO OIL THEFT AND ILLEGAL REFINERY IN NIGERIA

The reactions of the ethnic communities which have morphed into violent militant groups and ganglands in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria to State and industry control of land and mineral resources require a very close study. A comparative analysis of the current situation in Nigeria with what is obtained in the early days of the European civilization when the challenges of governance and economic crimes were emerging from the womb of the industrial revolution is equally of importance. If sovereignty resides ultimately with the people and the State governs with the consent of the citizens and the ultimate responsibility of the State and business is the welfare of the citizens, a fundamental breach of the social contract leaves the people with the right not only to abolish the State but to sabotage business in social banditry. This paper tries to apply the general principles of the theories of social banditry and social contract to the phenomenon of oil theft and illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It employs the comparative, historical and analytical methodology in presentation while relying on secondary materials and doctrinal research method. It argues that the crimes of oil theft and illegal refineries have arisen from the lack of the development of the Niger Delta by both the State and the multinational oil companies and that they are an expression of the rights to resource control by indigenous communities after 50 years of State and industry control of same have failed to yield development on the ticket of the United Nation’s Resolution 1803 of 1962 guaranteeing national sovereignty over natural resources. It finds that they fall within Hobsbawm’s social banditry thesis and that the basic conditions for the abolition of the State under the social contract thesis have been largely met by the economic and socio-legal contexts prevailing in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.