Walter U. G. Imoedemhe

Legitimate expectation’ as a concept in public law is relatively new in the history of legal development. Little wonder, therefore, that counsel to parties in litigation hardly resort to it to anchor a cause of action or argue their clients’ cases. Society is dynamic. So also, are socio-legal needs and legal solutions to legal problems. It is relevant in resolving disputes in many jural relationships such as one between school authority and students; employer and employee; bachelor and spinster; government and the governed. It is against this background that the concept is explained not only from its ordinary meaning, but also from the more important technical perspectives of its juristic and scholastic connotations. The concept of legitimate expectation is an appropriate review mechanism that can be administratively and judicially applied to protect the legitimate expectations of persons.