EDWIN CLARK UNIVERSITY, KIAGBODO

DELTA STATE
FACULTY OF LAW
To: All Staff and Students
Date: 15th Dec, 2023.
Subject: RE: UNIFORMITY IN WRITING AND SUPERVISION OF
STUDENTS’ PROJECTS (LONG ESSAYS) IN COMPLIANCE WITH NALT
2021 MANUAL ON LEGAL RESEARCH BASIC GUIDE

PART A
1. Preliminary Pages should contain the following in Roman Numerals
paginations:
i. The Blank Fly Leaf (Nothing is written on this page)
ii. Title page (First Name, Surname, Mat. No.) In reality, this is page
i, but no page number is indicated on this page for the purpose of
style.
iii. Declaration page (actual numbering starts from this page, i.e.
page ii)
iv. Certification page
v. Dedication
vi. Acknowledgements
vii. Table of contents: No use of dotted lines to connect items listed
and pages where they were used.
viii. List of cases (in alphabetical order). No use of dotted lines to
connect items and pages.
ix. Table of Statutes. ( Alphabetically with sections and
subsections shown and pages where it was used at the far right.
x. List of Acronyms/abbreviations (in alphabetical order)
xi. Abstract (one-paged, non-paragraphed concise summary of
student’s project, 300-350 words, Times New Romans, single line
spacing and in past tense). Must capture brief background of the
work, aim and objectives research methodology, major findings,
conclusion and Recommendations.
2. The project shall comprise 1-5 chapters in Arabic Numerals paginations
(1, 2, 3 etc). Numbering of pages continues in the bibliography.
3. Chapter 1: the heading of chapter one is INTRODUCTION, while its
subheadings are as follows:
1.1 Background to the Study: This area should give an explanation
on why the research is necessary.
 1.2 Statement of the Research Problem (the situation that warranted
the problem or gap) followed by 3-4 research questions (arising
from the Statement of the Research Problem)
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study (one aim and not more than 3-4
objectives. The number of objectives ordinarily ought to
correspond with the number of research questions).
1.4 Scope and Limitation of the Study:
Scope: This is the delimitation of the study, spatial and/or temporal
(i.e, geographical, content and subject matter coverage).
Limitation: Shortcomings/difficulties/challenges.
1.5 Significance of the Study: it should show
a) the relevance of the research to the society.
b) its contribution to knowledge and those who will benefit from
the research.
1.6 Research Methodology: Research approach and method(s) of data
collection (not more than ½ a page).
1.7 Synopsis of chapters: highlights the major contents of each
chapter.
4. Chapter 2: Should be headed LITERATURE REVIEW, and its
contents are as follows:
2.1 Conceptual Clarification
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.3 Review of Related Literature: here, students are expected to
review a minimum of 15 texts/journals (i.e., mixture of texts and
articles) relevant to research topic.
5. Chapters 3: is headed LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL
FRAMEWORK.
This chapter is divided into two 3.1 Legal Framework and 3.2
Institutional Framework.
In 3.1 Legal Framework students are expected to identify and discuss
laws relevant to their research topics while in 3.2 students are
expected to discuss institutions relevant to their work.
6. Chapter 4: Chapter takes headingc and subheading as discussed between
supervisor and student.
7. Chapter 5: Is headed CONCLUSION and contains the following:
5.1 Summary of Findings.
5.2 Recommendations.
5.3 Contributions to Knowledge.
5.4 Areas for Further Studies.
5.5 Conclusion.
 8. Maximum length of project is 50-100 pages, A4 size, double line
spacing with font face 12 Times New Roman for the body of the work
and font face 10 Times New Roman for footnotes.
9. Binding/Submission: Submit four Copies of your work bound as
follows: (I) soft cover before project defence, and (ii) hard cover, black
colour after project defence and corrections.
10.Pagination at the bottom of the page (at the center).
11.Bibliography: students are expected to prepare a bibliography of sources
consulted at the end of the research project. It should be arranged as
follows:
- Books
- Book chapters
- Journal articles
- Seminar/conference papers
- Periodicals
- Internet materials
NB: In bibliography, surnames should come first, e.g. Ohimor, B. O.
12.Footnote citations should follow NALT method (i.e. in-text 1 or in the
body of the work). NOTE: Numbering of footnotes does not flow from
one chapter to the next, but rather begins afresh from No. 1 for each
chapter. To achieve this, create a folder for your entire project work.
Within the folder, create separate files for each segment of your
work, eg, preliminary pages should be in one file, chapter one should
be in another file, same goes for chapters 2, 3, 4, 5 and your
bibliography etc. That way, each chapter’s footnotes will begin from
No. 1.
13.Font Size – 12 for main body, 10 for footnotes.
14.Font Type: Times New Roman for main body and footnotes. NOTE:
Footnotes to be changed manually from Calibri to Times New
Roman.
15.Chapter Headings: All caps and bold; font size – 14.
16.Subheadings: Initial caps, low bold; font size -12.

PART B
QUICK SUMMARY TO NALT CITATION GUIDELINES FOR STYLE
OF REFERENCING
NB: Project students should be encouraged by supervisors to rely on
current materials (texts, journals, statutes, case law).
1
Using CTRL+ALT+F keys
a. Punctuation marks to be used minimally, e.g. LFN instead of L.F.N.;
NWLR, not N.W.L.R etc.
b. Citing of cases: Ezenwankwo v The State [2015] 2 NWLR (Pt 1443) 265.
Zechariah & 8 Others v Registered Trustees of Royal Club
[2015] 3 NWLR (Pt 1221) 287.
Unreported Cases: The State v Airwaves Communications Ltd
(FHC/J/CRC/10/2015, Federal High Court, Jos Judicial Division, 17 June
2016) or simply add Unreported.
c. Text Books: A. O. Alubo, Criminal Procedure Law in Nigeria (Innovative
Communications, 2012) 228.
d. Book Chapters: O. K. Edu, ‘Environmental Impact Assessment: Policy and
Law in Nigeria’ in Ecology: Concept, Politics and Legislation, (ed.
Gasiokwu, M. O. U.), (Enugu: Chenglo Publishers, 2013), 408.
e. Journal articles: O. Jide, ‘The Effect of Bibliography on Prisoners: A Study
of Ikoyi Prison, Lagos’ Lagos Journal of Information Science, (2007)(3)(2),
89-96.
f. Books/Journal Articles with more than Two Authors: The first citation in
a chapter should carry all the authors’ names – H. A. Sharif, D. D.
Hammawa and I. B. Garba, ‘Gas Flaring: When Will Nigeria Decarbonize
its Oil and Gas Industry?’
<https://article.sciencepublishing.group.com/html/10.11648.j.ijee>
(accessed 30th May 2022).
Note that subsequent citations in the same chapter will then be written thus:
Shariff, et al, ibid.
g. Online Sources: B. U. Ihugba, ‘Reclaiming the People’s Will in
Constitution Alteration Process: An Analysis of Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria
Constitutions’ <http://www.peer-reviewd-journals.com/journal-of-law-and-
policy.html> (accessed 30 April, 2022).
h. Separate more than one citation with semi-colon (;) e.g.
Abacha v Fawehinmi [2000] FWLR (Pt 4) 533; V. V. Tarhule, Corrections
under Nigeria Law (Innovative Communications 2014) 122.
i. Use colon (:) to separate a title from a subtitle, e.g.
M. O. U. Gasiokwu, Legal Research and Methodology: The A-Z of Writing
Theses and Dissertations in Nutshell…..
h. Citation of Acts, Constitution:
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, and for subsequent
citation(s), CFRN 1999 or the Constitution
when properly defined.
Footnote citations should be in full: Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria (Third Alteration Act, 2010 (Act No. 3).
 i. Citing sections: Section 4(1)(a)(i)
j. Electronic Law Report: Cite as indicated on the report itself.
k. Encyclopedias: Halsbury’s Laws (5th edn, 2010) Vol. 57, Para 53.
l. Lecture notes: P. N. Oche, A Critique of the Petroleum Industry Bill (A
Lecture Note prepared for graduate students and final year students of the
Faculty of Law, University of Jos, 2015).
m. Conference paper: A. O. Alubo and Others, ‘Plea Bargain Mechanism in
the Judicial Determination Corruption Cases: A Critical Inter-Jurisdictional
Assessment’ (A conference proceedings of the 46 th annual conference of
Nigerian Association of Law Teachers, held at the auditorium and Faculty of
Law, University of Ilorin from the 22nd to 26th April 2013), 235-271.
n. Periodicals/Dailies-Newspapers/Magazines:
J. N. Aduba, ‘Constitutionalism and Citizenship: What is the Way
Forward?’ New Era Magazine (Lagos, 13 October 2012) 10. (If online, add
the web address and date of last access).

o. Projects, Dissertations, Theses:

M. Zechariah, Genocide under International Criminal Law: Past, Present
and Future Concerns in Africa (LLM Dissertation, Faculty of Law,
University of Jos, 2011).

NOTE: BELOW ARE SAMPLES OF THE PRELIMINARY PAGES

STARTING FROM THE BLANK FLY PAGE
(note: this is the Blank Fly Leaf and must therefore be blank)
 TORTIOUS LIABILITY OF MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS IN NIGERIA

BY

OGHENEBRORHIE VAIKOSEN
MATRICULATION NUMBER: ECU/2017/LAW/025/421

BEING A LONG ESSAY SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF LAW,

EDWIN CLARK UNIVERSITY, KIAGBODO, DELTA STATE, IN
PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD
OF BACHELOR OF LAW (LL.B) DEGREE OF THE EDWIN CLARK
UNIVERSITY

AUGUST, 2023.
DECLARATION
I, DANIEL FAITHFUL TARI, hereby declare that this work is the product of my own research

efforts undertaken under the supervision of B.O OHIMOR, (Mrs.) and has not been presented

elsewhere for the award of a degree or certificate. All sources have been duly distinguished and

properly acknowledged.

………………………………. ……………………….
DANIEL TARI FAITHFUL DATE

ii

CERTIFICATION
This is to certify that the research work for this long essay and the subsequent

preparation of this long essay by DANIEL FAITHFUL TARI (Mat. No.

ECU/2017/Law/025/289) were carried out under my supervision.

……………………… ……………………….
B. O. OHIMOR Date
(Supervisor)

………………………… ………………………..
PROF. O. K. EDU Date
(Dean, Faculty of Law)

………………………………………. ………………………..
External Examiner Date

iii
DEDICATION
It is with genuine gratitude and warm regard that I dedicate this work to GOD

ALMIGHTY, to my lovely parents……………..

iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For successfully carrying out this work, I would like to express my gratitude to
several individuals and organizations for supporting me throughout my
undergraduate studies…………..

LIST OF CASES
Abatan v Awudu [2003] 10 NWLR (pt. 829) 451……………………..…. 15

Akerele v R [1942] 8 WACA 5……………………………………..….….. 7

Blyth v Birimingham Water Co. [1856] 11 Ex 781 at 784……………….. 20

Bolam v Friern Hospital Management Committee [1957] 2 All ER...…….22

Cassidy v Ministry of Health [1951] 1 All ER 573………………….…17, 62

Chin Know v Government of Malaysia [1967] 1 WLR 813…………….....22

De Freville v Dill [1927] All ER 205………………………………………17

Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562……………………………...……. 21

Edet v Essien [1932] 11 NLR 47………………………………………….. 43

Fabian Imoh v The State (Unreported)……………………………………. 44

Fagan v Commissioner of Metropolitan Police [1969] 1 QB 439……… 27

First Bank of Nigeria Plc v Banjo [2015] 5 NWLR (pt. 1452) 253

CA………………………………………………………………………….16

Fort Royal Homes Ltd &Anor v EFCC & Anor [2017] LPELR-42807

(CA) ………………………………….………………...…………………. 31

Hunter v Hanley [1995] CSIH 2………………………………………….. 24

vi
LIST OF STATUTES
Civil Liabilities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act No. 33 1961 Lagos.

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration,

No. 27) Act, 2017.

Criminal Code Act Cap C38 LFN 2004.

Evidence Act 2011 Cap E14 LFN 2004al and Dental Practitioners Act Cap

M8 LFN 2004.

National Health Act 2014 (Act No. 8 of 2014).

Patient’s Bill of Rights 2018.

Penal Code Cap 83 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963.

Robbery and Firearm (Special Provisions) Act Cap 398 LFN 1990.

The Fatal Accidents Act 1961

The Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934

Workmen’s Compensation Act Cap W6 LFN 2004

vii

LIST OF ACRONYMS
AA ……………………………………………………………. Appeal Cases

Anor ………………………………………………………………… Another

CA …………………………………………………………. Court of Appeal

CFRN …………………… Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Crim. LR …………………………………………… Criminal Law Report

CSIH ……………………………… Scotland Court of Session, Inner House

DLR …………………………………………………Dominion Law Report

Ed ……………………………………………………………………. Edition

EFCC ………………………. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

ER …………………………………………………….. England Law Report

Ex ……………………………………………………… Exchequer Chamber

FWLR …………………………………… Federation Weekly Law Report

JCA …………………………………………. Justice of the Court of Appeal

JELR …………………………………………… Just Electronic Law Report

JSC …………………………………………… Justice of the Supreme Court

KB …………………………………………………………… King’s Bench

LFN …………………………………… Laws of the Federation of Nigeria

viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover Page

Title Page

Approval Page

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Table of Contents

Table of Statutes

Table of Cases

List of Abbreviations

Abstract

CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

1.2 Statement of the Research Problem

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

1.4 Scope and Limitation of the Study

1.5 Significance of the Study

ix

1.6 Research Methodology

1.7 Literature Review

1.8 Synopsis of Chapters

CHAPTER TWO: CIVIL TORTIOUS LIABILITY OF MEDICAL

PRACTITIONERS IN NIGERIA
2.1Introduction

2.2The depth of the relationship between medical practitioners and patients

2.3Civil liability arising from the relationship between medical practitioners and

patients.

2.4Negligence of medical practitioners

2.5Trespass to person by medical practitioners

2.6Proof of civil liability of medical practitioners

CHAPTER THREE: CRIMINAL TORTIOUS LIABILITY OF MEDICAL

PRACTITIONERS
3.1 Introduction

3.2 Criminal liability arising from the relationship between medical practitioners

and patients

3.3 Murder and manslaughter by medical practitioners

3.4 Abortion and mercy killing by medical practitioners

3.5 Proof of criminal liability of medical practitioners

x
CHAPTER FOUR: DEFENCES AND REMEDIES

4.1 Defenses available for the liability of medical practitioners

4.2 Remedies available for the claimant

4.3 Requirements for cause of action

4.4 Liability of hospital management

CHAPTER FIVE: GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

5.1 Observations

5.2 Recommendations

5.3 Conclusion

Biblography

Reference

xi
 ABSTRACT

The research work examines the tortious liability of medical practitioners against
the background of increasing spate of malpractices in the Nigerian health
sector………………….

xii