STATUTORY INTERPRETATION — Whole Statute Rule — Reading Provisions in Context
Principle Statement
A statute should always be looked at as a whole. When section 4(2) is read along with section 51(1), the appellant's argument becomes flat and unsustainable.
Ratio Decidendi (Source)
Per Oguntade, JSC, in Unipetrol Nigeria Plc v. Edo State Board of Internal Revenue (2006) NLC-123-286-2001(SC) at pp. 10–11; Para A.
"It is equally important however that a statute should always be looked at as a whole. See Awolowo v. Shagari [1979] 6-9 SC. 51 and Broniks Motors v. Wema Bank [1983] 1 S.C.N.L.R. 296. It is apparent, that, when section 4(2) is read along with section 51(1) of Cap. 71, the argument of appellant's counsel falls flat and becomes unsustainable."
Explanation / Scope
Statutes must be read as a whole, not in isolated parts. The principle applies to statutory interpretation.
