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Perjury is the name of an offence under the Criminal Code (which is applicable in the Southern states of Nigeria). The offence of false evidence under the Penal Code (which is applicable in the Northern states of Nigeria) is equivalent. Evidence is the corner stone of all legal proceedings. It is therefore, of great significance, for its sanctity to be protected. A judge or magistrate before whom the legal contest is fought is intrinsically unconnected with the facts which led to the dispute. His ability to resolve the dispute based on the facts as presented by the disputants depends to a large extent on the quality of evidence adduced by the parties. Assigning probative value on the evidence of the disputants and, their witnesses, equally depend on the forensic skills of the trial court in observing the demeanours of those witnesses. The basis for the proscription of offences relating to perjury or false evidence is underscored by the inherent danger in wrongful conviction or wrongful acquittal where the evidence adduced by the parties, were false. ==Offence of perjury under the Criminal Code== The offence of perjury is created by section 117 of the Criminal Code which reads: "Judicial proceeding" Section 113 of the Criminal Code reads: Corroboration Section 119 of the Criminal Code reads: In R Threlfall,〔10 Cr App R 112, at p.114〕 it was held that section 13 of the Perjury Act 1911 imposes a requirement that the assignment of perjury must be proved or corroborated with two witnesses, or by one witness with proof of other material and relevant facts substantially confirming his testimony. In R v Mayhew〔6 C & P 315. See also the cases of R v Saldanha (1921) 85 J.P 47; R v Hook (1858) D. and B. 606 (T.A.C) wherein it was held that it is sufficient if one direct witness be corroborated by some admission which the prisoner has made, or by circumstantial evidence.〕 a letter written by the defendant contradicting his sworn evidence is corroboration. The corroborated fact upon which the assignment is based, must be relative to that part of the matter sworn which is material to the matter before the court at the time the oath was taken. Sentence Section 118 of the Criminal Code reads: 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Perjury in Nigeria」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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