Section 17: Provisions applying to exercise of original jurisdiction.

With respect to the exercise of the original jurisdiction conferred upon the Supreme Court by subsection (1) of section 232 of the Constitution or which may be conferred upon it in pursuance of section 232 (2) of the Constitution, the following provisions shall apply-(a) subject to the express provisions of any enactment, law and equity shall be administered concurrently;
(b) in every cause or matter pending before it the Supreme Court shall grant, either absolutely or on such terms and conditions as the Court thinks just, all such remedies whatsoever as any of the parties thereto may appear to be entitled to in respect of any legal or equitable claim properly brought forward by them in the cause or matter, so that, as far as possible, all matters in controversy between the parties may be completely and finally determined, and all multiplicity of legal proceedings concerning any of those matters avoided;
(c) subject to the express provisions of any enactment, in all matters in which there was formerly or is any conflict or variance between the rules of equity and the rules of the common law with reference to the same matter, the rules of equity shall prevail;
(d) in addition to any other powers conferred upon the Supreme Court by any enactment, the Supreme Court shall have and may exercise all powers and authorities which are vested in or capable of being exercised by it under the Constitution;
(e) the Supreme Court shall observe and enforce the observance of customary law to the same extent as such law is observed and enforced in the Nigerian Courts.