LEGAL PRINCIPLE: STATUTORY INTERPRETATION — Court’s Interpretative Jurisdiction — Court Cannot Import One Statute Into Another
PRINCIPLE STATEMENT
A court that imports a statute into another statute when the enabling statute does not anticipate such importation will be said to be making the law in a bad way, thus changing places with the Legislature. No court can do such a thing.
RATIO DECIDENDI (SOURCE)
Per Tobi, JSC, in Obasanjo & Ors v. Yusuf & Anor (2004) NLC-1932003(SC) at pp. 42–43; Paras E–A.
"A court which, in the exercise of its interpretative jurisdiction, imports a statute to another statute when the enabling statute does not anticipate such importation, will be said to be making the law in a bad way because by that, it is changing places with the Legislature. No court can do such a thing."
EXPLANATION / SCOPE
Courts cannot import provisions from one statute into another. The principle applies to statutory interpretation. Judicial legislation violates separation of powers. The rule respects legislative supremacy. The court must interpret each statute on its own terms. The principle is fundamental.