The prerogative writ of certiorari process is meant to provide a supervisory process or measure to check the excesses, arbitrariness of inferior courts or tribunals: Rex v. Northumberland Compensation Appeal Tribunal Ex-parte Shaw (1952) 1 KB 338 at 346 347. This decision of the English court was considered and applied in Oduwole v. Famakinwa (1990) 4 NWLR (Pt. 143) 239 at 251. See further the cases of Queen v. District Officer (Ex-parte Eti Atem) (1961) All NLR 55 (Reprint); Agwuegbo v. Kagoma (2000) FWLR (Pt. 19) 511, (2000) 14 NWLR (Pt. 687) 252 at 269. The certiorari procedure is available under section 272(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and various State High Court Laws and High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules. This powers of control of inferior courts or tribunals by the High Court is exercised by A means of quashing any decision of an inferior court which on the face of it is excessive, arbitrary or oppressive.
— Galadima JSC. The State v. Monsurat Lawal (SC. 80/2004, 15 Feb 2013)