CONSTITUTIONAL LAW — Constitutional Interpretation — Statute or Constitution Must Be Read as a Whole to Determine Legislative Intendment
Principle Statement
In interpreting the provisions or section of a statute or the Constitution, such provisions or section should not be read in isolation of the other parts. The statute or Constitution should be read as a whole in order to determine the intendment of the makers.
Ratio Decidendi (Source)
Per Mohammed, JSC, in Ojukwu v. Obasanjo & Ors (2004) NLC-1992003(SC) at pp. 8–9; Paras E–A.
"It is settled that in interpreting the provisions or section of a statute or indeed the Constitution, such provisions or section should not be read in isolation of the other parts of the statute or Constitution. In other words, the statute or Constitution should be read as a whole in order to determine the intendment of the makers of the statute or Constitution."
Explanation / Scope
The Constitution must be read as a whole. The principle applies to constitutional interpretation. No provision is read in isolation. The rule ensures that the court captures the full intent. The court will harmonise all provisions. The principle is fundamental.
