Comparative Analysis of Customary and Islamic Laws Appraisal of Areas of Reforms

Customary and Islamic laws are strong sources of the Nigerian Legal System. Many believe that the two are the same while they remain independent areas of legal jurisprudence with unique sources, principles and application. This monograph is poised to address these independent sources of Nigerian Law and the various areas of reform demanding attention particularly by the custodians of these laws. The work adopts a doctrinal approach by examining the doctrines, principles and rules guiding Customary and Islamic laws through available literatures and judicial decisions. It adopts a comparative analysis of the two laws with a view to draw distinctions between them. The work further addresses some areas of reforms on Islamic and Customary laws. It suggests that as much as legislative reform is necessary to drive the reforms, customary and Islamic laws assume a different legal jurisprudence and its reform should be undertaken by or with the major custodians while considering modern realities without necessarily losing the origin and values of these laws.