STATUTORY INTERPRETATION ā Literal Rule ā Applies to Clear and Unambiguous Words
Principle Statement
The literal rule is the golden rule method of interpretation when words of a statute are plain and unambiguous. Such words should be given their ordinary plain meaning. It is not permissible to refrain from that meaning, even if it gives unreasonable or unfair results, to go outside what the words convey.
Ratio Decidendi (Source)
Per Uwaifo, JSC, in Ndoma-Egba v. Chukwuogor (2004) NLC-1061998(SC) at pp. 6ā7; Paras DāA.
"It is the law that the literal rule is the golden rule method of interpretation when the words of a statute are plain and unambiguous. It is a fundamental rule that such words should be given their ordinary plain meaning. It is not in such circumstances permissible to refrain from its meaning, even though it gives unreasonable or unfair result, and to go outside what the words themselves actually convey, in an attempt to consider what other things they ought to be capable of meaning."
Explanation / Scope
Plain and unambiguous statutory words must be given their ordinary literal meaning. Courts cannot depart from that meaning even if the result seems unreasonable or unfair. The principle applies to statutory interpretation. The rule prevents judicial rewriting of clear legislation. Judges may not consider what words ought to mean when the meaning is clear. The literal rule is the primary interpretative method.
