CROSS RIVER – INTER-TRIBAL BOUNDARIES SETTLEMENT LAW

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CROSS RIVER STATE LAWS.

CHAPTER I7

INTER-TRIBAL BOUNDARIES SETTLEMENT LAW

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION

1. Power to determine inter-tribal boundary.
2. Inquiry with assessors.
3. Legal practitioners not to appear.
4. Power of Governor to review.
5. Application of section 2 to section 4.
6. Power to summon witnesses.
7. Registration of settlements.
8. Penalties.
9. Interpretation.
10. Short title.

CHAPTER I7

INTER-TRIBAL BOUNDARIES SETTLEMENT LAW

A Law to provide for the settlement of Disputes with regard to Inter-Tribal Boundaries

(30th November, 1933)

[Commencement]

1. Power to determine inter-tribal boundary

Any secretary to a Local Government may, with the approval of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government inquire into and decide any dispute between two or more tribes as to the boundaries between the lands of such tribes.

2. Inquiry with assessors

In any inquiry under the last preceding section, the Secretary to the Local Government may, if he thinks fit, be assisted by such one or more persons as he may select as assessors, whom he may summon as occasion requires. The opinion of each assessor shall be given orally and shall be recorded in writing by the Secretary to the Local Government but the decision shall rest exclusively with the Secretary to the Local Government and no settlement shall be deemed invalid if any, or all, of the assessors so summoned shall not be present throughout the whole of the inquiry.

3. Legal practitioners not to appear

No legal practitioner shall appear or act for or assist any party in any inquiry held under this Law unless he is a member of the tribes which are parties to the dispute, is personally interested in its settlement, and receives no remuneration for his services in the inquiry.

4. Power of Governor to review

The Governor may, if he thinks fit review the proceedings of any inquiry held under any of the preceding sections and may, in his discretion, affirm, set aside, or vary any decision given there-under, either in the first instance or on review, or may order any Secretary to a Local Government to hold a further inquiry.

5. Application of section 2 to section 4

The provisions of section 2 shall apply to any further inquiry held under section 4.

6. Power to summon witnesses

For the purposes of any inquiry under this Law the Secretary to the Local Government shall have all the powers of a magistrate in connection with any civil cause in respect of enforcing the attendance of witnesses and compelling the production of documents.

7. Registration of settlements

Any decision or order given on any inquiry under this Law shall be recorded in writing and shall be signed by the officer giving the same, and shall be registered and preserved by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government.

8. Penalties

Any person who acts in disregard or defiance of any decision which may be in force under this Law or, without due authority removes, damages or defaces any boundary or other mark erected during the course and for the purposes of any inquiry under this Law or erected in connection with any decision or order given under this Law, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a fine of one hundred naira or to imprisonment for six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

9. Interpretation

In this Law—

“tribe” includes a sub-tribe, clan of a tribe, an administrative unit or other similar community and the inhabitants of a village.

10. Short title

This Law may be cited as the Inter-Tribal Boundaries Settlement Law.

CHAPTER I7

INTER-TRIBAL BOUNDARIES SETTLEMENT LAW

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

No Subsidiary Legislation