Comparison
Read two legal systems against each other
Because every portal follows the same fifteen-section outline, the comparison is genuinely like-for-like rather than a collage of whatever each government happens to publish.
Select up to six documented jurisdictions
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| Attribute | NigeriaReviewed | United KingdomReviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Legal family | Mixed (common law, customary law, Sharia) | Common law |
| System of government | Federal presidential republic | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
| Constitution | Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria | Uncodified constitution |
| In force since | 1999 | 1215 |
| Capital | Abuja | London |
| Official languages | English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo | English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic |
| Currency | Naira (NGN) | Pound Sterling (GBP) |
| Population | 223,800,000 | 68,500,000 |
| Division of powers | Federal separation between the President, a bicameral National Assembly and the judiciary, replicated at state level. The Exclusive, Concurrent and Residual Legislative Lists allocate competence between the federation and the 36 states. | The executive sits inside the legislature. Judicial independence was strengthened in 2005 when the Supreme Court replaced the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords. |
| How law is made | Three readings in each chamber, committee scrutiny, then harmonisation of the two texts by a conference committee. The President assents or withholds; the Assembly can override a veto by two-thirds of both chambers. | First reading, second reading, committee stage, report stage and third reading in each House, then ping-pong on amendments, then Royal Assent. |
| Legal profession | A fused profession: a law degree, the Nigerian Law School and call to the Bar admit a single legal practitioner who both advises and appears. Senior Advocate of Nigeria is the senior rank. | A split profession: solicitors (regulated by the SRA) advise and conduct litigation; barristers (Bar Standards Board) hold rights of audience in the higher courts. |
A comparison table flattens nuance by design. Where a difference matters to a decision you are making, open both portals and read the section in full — the constitutional detail behind a one-line summary is often the part that governs the outcome.