¹ See Cap. 27 of Volume XI of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and Lagos, 1958.

² See pp. 501–502 of Volume XI of the Revised Laws of Nigeria, 1948.

³ Although a Supreme Court for the Colony of Lagos had existed since 1863, it was not until 1933 that the Courts jurisdiction applied to the whole of the Protectorate. See Supreme Court (Amendment) Ordinance, 1933, No. 46 of 1933.

⁴ See s. 10 Federal Supreme Court (General Provisions) Act, Cap. 68. Revised Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and Lagos 1958, Vol. III.

⁵ Sees. 1(1) of the 1962 Act.

⁶ Emphasis mine.

⁷ 1973 1 All N.L.R. (Part 2) 208 at 221.Google Scholar

⁸ American International Insurance Company v. Ceekay Traders Ltd. [1981] N.S.C. Vol. II 65.Google Scholar

⁹ (1983) 6 SC 158.Google Scholar

¹⁰ See the landmark case of Savannah Bank v. Pan Atlantic Shipping & Anor. [1987] N.S.C. Vol. III 1 for a full exposition on the concurrent jurisdiction of the State and Federal High Courts.Google Scholar See also Okwechime, Vincent M., ‘The true scope of the admiralty jurisdiction in Nigeria’, (1986) 17 Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce 4, 567.Google Scholar

¹¹ The yuri Maru [1927] A.C. 906.Google Scholar

¹² Ibid.

¹³ See Fas Brothers Ltd. v. Marine Merchants (Nigeria) Ltd. [1978] Vol. 1 N.S.C. 401.Google Scholar See also Dr Owen Adikibi v. Nigerian National Shipping Line [1987] Vol. III N.S.C. 152 where the FHC held that the Hague/Visby Rules nor the English Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1971, apply to Nigeria.Google Scholar

¹⁴ See The WATAGA, Swabey, 167.

¹⁵ 3 & 4 Vict. c. 65 s. 6.

¹⁶ Maritime Law (3rd ed.), London, 1989, 92. In Nigeria the equivalent amending legislation is 1991 Admiralty Jurisdiction Decree.Google Scholar

¹⁷ See Vamos Navigation Limited v. Ojomo & Another [1976] N.S.C. Vol. 1 306 at 313.Google Scholar

¹⁸ Anchor Ltd. v. The Owners of The Ship Eleni 1956 N.S.C.C. 16.Google Scholar

¹⁹ The Burns [1907] P 137 at 149.Google Scholar

²⁰ Maritime Law, above, n. 16, 92.

²¹ Mercantile Merchant Bank of Nigeria Ltd. v. E. R. Tucker & Ors. [1978] N.S.C. Vol. 1 428.Google Scholar

²² The Rena [1979] Q.B. 377 at 405.Google Scholar

²³ The Parlement Beige (1880) 14 P.D. 197.Google Scholar

²⁴ S. 24(2) of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Decree, 1991.

²⁵ S. 1(i)(j) Administration of Justice Act, 1956.

²⁶ S. 1(i)(k).

²⁷ S. 1(i)(l). See also Lever Brother Mgeria Ltd. v. Mgeria Airways Ltd. [1990] N.S.C. Vol. III 614.Google Scholar

²⁸ The Leliegracht [1988] N.S.C. 372 Vol. III.Google Scholar See also Patterson Steamships Ltd. v. Robin Hood Mills Ltd. (1937) 5 LL.R 33;Google ScholarLennards Carrying Co. Ltd. v. Asiatic Petroleum Co. Ltd. [1914] 1 K.B. 419.Google Scholar

²⁹ The Leligracht, per Mohammed, J., at 381.Google Scholar

³⁰ [1987] N.S.C. Vol. III 82.Google Scholar

³¹ See Queen v. City of London Court [1982] 1 Q.B.D. 273, 294.Google Scholar

³² See Petrojessica Enterprises Ltd. v. Leoentis Technical Company Ltd. [1992] 5 N.W.L.R. 674Google Scholar at 698 per Nneameka-Agu, J.S.C. See also American International Insurance Co. Ltd v. Ceekqy Traders Ltd. (1981) 5 S.C. 81.

³³ Dissenting opinion of Nnaemeka-Agu, J.C.A., upheld by the Supreme Court in A.M.O. Akinsanya v. United Bank For Africa Ltd. [1986] N.S.C. Vol. II 515 at 524.Google Scholar

³⁴ Per Bello, J.S.C., in Nasaralm Enterprises Ltd. v. Arab Bank (Nig.) Ltd. [1986] N.S.C. Vol. II 561 at 572.Google Scholar

³⁵ S. 2(1).

³⁶ S. 5 Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894/1962.

³⁷ S.2(2)(a)(i).

³⁸ S.2(2)(a)(ii).

³⁹ S.2(2)(a)(iii).

⁴⁰ S.2(2)(a)(iv).

⁴¹ S.2(2)(b).

⁴² S.2(2)(c).

⁴³ S.2(2)(d).

⁴⁴ The Ripon City (1878) P 226 at 141 per Gorrel Barnes, J.

⁴⁵ The Bold Buccleugh (1851) 7 Moo. P.C. 267.Google Scholar

⁴⁶ This restriction is rendered nurgutory by s. 5(4) of the Decree which enables the arrest of a sister ship under certain circumstances whether or not the claim gives rise to a maritime lien.

⁴⁷ Emphasis mine.

⁴⁸ Carriage of Goods By Sea (12th ed.), Vol. 2 para 1383, 1172.Google Scholar

⁴⁹ N.S.C. Vol. II 339.Google Scholar

⁵⁰ See ss. 3(2) and (4) of the 1956 Act.

⁵¹ Emphasis mine.

⁵² Emphasis mine.

⁵³ See dicta in The Eschersheim [1977] 2 Lloyds Rep. 1.Google Scholar

⁵⁴ N.S.C. Vol. II 469.Google Scholar

⁵⁵ [1963] 1 Lloyds L.R. 63.Google Scholar

⁵⁶ [1977] 3 W.L.R. 778.Google Scholar

⁵⁷ See also the English case of The Andrea Ursula [1971] 1 Lloyds Rep. 145 where the plaintiff ship repairers who had repaired the Andrea Ursula at the request of the demise charterers and who had claimed the cost of repairs under section 1(1)(n) of the 1956 Act were held to be entitled to proceed by an action in rem against the ship on the basis that at the time when the action was brought the demise charterers were beneficial owners as respects all the shares therein.

⁵⁸ [1985] N.S.C. Vol. II 314.Google Scholar

⁵⁹ See s. 2(3)(a) above.

⁶⁰ Above, n. 30, at 475.

⁶¹ Dr Omololu Sayombo v. The Owners of the Vessel MV Veronique (unreported) FHC/L/CS/170/92.

⁶² [1957] 2 All E.R. 374.Google Scholar See also Savannah Bank v. Pan Atlantic Shipping & Transport Agencies Ltd. at 1.

⁶³ Akinseye v.Ekiyor Vol. 1 N.S.C. 342.Google Scholar

⁶⁴ African Container Express v. The Tourist Company Vol. 3 N.S.C. 268.Google Scholar See also West African Shipping Agency (Nig.) Ltd. v. Nablico Ltd. (unreported) Suit No. FHC/L/62/86.

⁶⁵ Allison Fisheries Ltd. (Owners of F/T Saadiah “s” v. Major Ohm Eyo Onyund and The Vessel M.V. Enobong (unreported) FHC/L/75/88.

⁶⁶ See Mrs Funmilayo Baderin (Trading under the Name and Style of Kunle Funnmi Enterprises) v. Owners of the Nikos A. (unreported) FHC/L/CS/214/92.

⁶⁷ Ming Ren Shipping and Trading Co. Ltd. v. Amatemeso Shipping Agencies Ltd. Vol. 1 N.S.C. 462.Google Scholar

⁶⁸ Joseph Eustace Fernando & Ors v. Owners of M. V. Rhodian Trader, above, n. 49.