INDIGENOUS JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND ADMINISTRATION IN ETIM EKPO DURING THE PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
Abstract
Achieving justice has been one of the problems facing many societies today. In the pre-colonial period, Etim Ekpo society encouraged justice and equality at all levels of life. Since disputes, disagreements and conflicts are inevitable in every human society, the people of Etim Ekpo were compelled to create traditional methods of resolving dispute in the area. The study reveals that the Etim Ekpo people had a judicial system and laws guiding them before the era of colonialism. The data used in this work are derived from primary and secondary sources. The study therefore, is an attempt to provide information about indigenous judicial system and administration in Etim Ekpo during pre-colonial period. Their ways of administrating justice were through institution such as village council, oaths, iyong (divinations), and age grade (youth). These judicial system and indigenous institutions were highly respected and were effective instruments that helped in the consolidation of peace and harmony in the society. They were effective in conflict resolutions in the area in the pre-colonial period.
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