NigeriaNG

Article 272 — Jurisdiction: general

Article
272
Chapter
CHAPTER VII — The Judicature
Index row title
Jurisdiction: general
Source document
nigerian constitution
Provision ID
5a707c63-954b-4985-81f2-14af15868eaf

185 words

Verbatim text

(1) Subject to the provisions of section 251 and other provisions of this Constitution, the High Court of a State shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any civil proceedings in which the existence or extent of a legal right, power, duty, liability, privilege, interest, obligation or claim is in issue or to hear and determine any criminal proceedings involving or relating to any penalty, forfeiture, punishment or other liability in respect of an offence committed by any person. (2) The reference to civil or criminal proceedings in this section includes a reference to the proceedings which originate in the High Court of a State and those which are brought before the High Court to be dealt with by the Court in the exercise of its appellate or supervisory jurisdiction. (3) Subject to the provisions of section 251 and other provisions of this Constitution, the Federal High Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the question as to whether the term of office of a member of the House of Assembly of a State, a Governor or Deputy Governor has ceased or become vacant.

What this means

  • The index files this text under article 272 of the Constitution of Nigeria.
  • The index files it under the chapter heading “CHAPTER VII — The Judicature”.
  • The row is titled “Jurisdiction: general”.
  • The passage runs to about 185 words.
  • Read plainly, it mentions assembly and association — it protects gathering together or joining a group, union or party (the words used: “Assembly”).

This is a mechanical reading aid generated from the text above by matching words in it. It is not legal advice, not a lawyer’s interpretation, and not a substitute for the provision itself.

How to cite this

Constitution of Nigeria, article 272 (“Jurisdiction: general”), Portable Lawyer, https://www.portablelawyer.app/provision/5a707c63-954b-4985-81f2-14af15868eaf (accessed 25 October 2026).

Canonical URL: https://www.portablelawyer.app/provision/5a707c63-954b-4985-81f2-14af15868eaf

Accessed 25 October 2026.

Link to the canonical URL above, not to a #section-… fragment on the jurisdiction page — the fragment is a scroll position, this URL is the provision.

Machine-readable versions