Nigeria does not cease to be Nigeria because it has chosen a particular mode for ensuring the procedural completeness of its legal system, just as Nigerian does not cease to be Nigerian by choosing the English language, in which, incidentally, the learned Justice had flawlessly expressed himself, as the language of official communication. Our legal system draws much of its strength from being part of a common law system having its roots in the past while remaining organic. Our efforts should be directed to how best to build on the legacy of that great system of laws rather than to a denigration of the past we have built on and are building on.
— O. Ayoola, JSC. Carribean v NNPC (2002) – SC.74/1993