Resurgence of the Traditional Justice System in Postcolonial Benin (Nigeria) Society

Bibliographic Data

ID5796321
AuthorsItohan Mercy Idumwonyi (Ambrose Alli University), Solomon Ijeweimen Ikhidero (0000-0002-5375-4952, Ambrose Alli University)
Year2013
Volume6
Issue1
Pages123-135
Publication date2013-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAfrican Journal of Legal Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2210-9730 • E-ISSN: 1708-7384
PublisherMartinus Nijhoff Publishers (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1163/17087384-12342017
OpenAlexW1975677011
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited1

Rules and norms of behaviour are common features in human society. This is confirmed by human being's desire for protection, fairness and mutual respect from fellow humans in their social groups. Recognized authorities whose sanctions are respected help to ensure fairness and mutual respect for each other. For the traditional Benin (African) society, the issue of law and justice is the joint concern of the deities, ancestors and the human members within the society. The aim of this paper, is to examine (i) the relevance of traditional justice system in postcolonial Benin (African) society; and (ii) the unwavering respect for traditional values which the Benin (African) people have maintained even in a postcolonial era; and argue that the continual preference for traditional methods of obtaining justice by the people of Benin (Africa) are not unconnected with the inherent limitations of the received English legal system within an African terrain. As insiders, we propose a harmonization of a 'euro-afro-centric judicial system, for we believe that this would be beneficial and progressive for us as a people in quest for justice in a postcolonial Benin (African) society

Harmonization · Relevance · Social justice · Legal Education and Practice Innovations

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