Illiterates Protection Law

1. Short title. This Law may be cited as the Illiterates Protection Law

2. Interpretation. In this law - “Writer” means any person who shall write any letter or document at the request, on behalf, or in the name of any illiterate person, except as provided in section 5.

3. Verification of letters written for illiterate person. Any person who shall write any letter or document at the request, on behalf, or in the name of any illiterate person shall also write on such letter or other documents, his own name as the writer thereof and his address; and his so doing shall be equivalent to a statement. (a) that he was instructed to write any letter or document by the person for whom it purports to have been written and that the letter or document fully and correctly represents his instructions; and (b) if the letter or document purports to be signed with the signature or mark of the illiterate person; that prior to its being so signed it was read over and explained to the illiterate person, and that the signature or mark was made by such person

4. Penalty. If the writer of any such letter or document shall fail to write thereon his name and address, or if, having done so, any statement which under the last preceding section is in consequence implied shall be found to be untrue, the writer shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of one thousand naira or to imprisonment for six months.

5. Legal Practitioner exempt from the provisions of this Law. This Law shall not apply to the writing of any letter or other document written in the course of his business by or at the direction of any person admitted to practice and practicing as a legal practitioner in a High Court or the Supreme Court

6. Fee to be marked. (1) In addition to the obligation imposed upon him by section 3, every writer shall state in writing on the letter or document, and on each copy thereof: (a) whether or not any fee or reward has been or is to be charged or taken by him for writing such letter or document; and (b) the nature or amount of such fee or reward, if any, and (c) the total number of copies of such letter or document written by him, including the original. (2) Any writer who shall omit any of the particulars required by subsection (1) or who shall make any false statement in such particulars shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of one thousand naira or to imprisonment for six months.

7. Receipt to be given. Every writer shall give a receipt for the full amount of every fee or reward, whether in money or kind, taken by him for or in connection given with the writing of any letter or document.

8. Reward for writing letters. (1) A writer shall not charge or take any fee or reward exceeding the rates specified in the Schedule to this Law or the reasonable equivalent in kind of such sums respectively. For the purposes of such fee or reward no such letter or document shall be deemed to contain more than one thousand words. Such fee or reward shall be deemed to include payment for all reasonable materials and stationery. Any sum charged or taken by way of traveling expenses or lodging allowance shall be subject to the approval of an administrative officer. (2) Any writer who shall charge or take any fee or reward exceeding the rates laid down in the Schedule hereto shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of one thousand naira or to imprisonment for six months. Schedule 1 ILLITERATES PROTECTION LAW. N:K For every original letter or document per hundred words or part thereof 100 : 00 For the first copy (if any), per hundred words or part thereof 60 : 00 For second and subsequent copies, per hundred words or part thereof 40 : 00