UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
FE 502 LAW FOR ENGINEERS
Tutorial Questions

1. Payment of a smaller sum cannot discharge a debt for a greater amount;. Is

this and should this be the law?
2. UMAR SULEIMAN asked MAINA VILLE to come and stay at his house for
a fortnight. UMAR SULEIMAN’s wife died on the day before MAINA
VILLE arrived. MAINA VILLE, after paying an expensive air ticket, found
that UMAR SULEIMAN could not receive him at the airport and was
obliged to stay at a hotel. Advise MAINA VILLE if he can sue on the
agreement.
3. The formula for deciding whether a stipulation is a condition or warranty is
well recognized; the difficulty is in its application.’ ( per Sellers L.J., Hong
Kong Fir Shipping Co. Ltd)

In what circumstances will a party who has suffered a breach of contract

have the right to treat the agreement as repudiated?

4. Hon. Eng. LAWAN ABDULKADIR MONGUNO a member of National

House of Assembly gave a political party in the National Stadium and
contracted with Eng. ALEX YAKUBU MADU, an air pilot, to give his
visitors a ride in his aero plane. On the day of the party ALEX YAKUBU
MADU showed signs of refusing to carry out his contract with Hon. Eng.
LAWAN ABDULKADIR MONGUNO. A prominent supporter of Hon. Eng.
LAWAN, Eng. YUSUF HALIDU YAHAYA, promised Eng. ALEX
YAKUBU MADU one million naira extra if he fulfill his agreement . Advice,
Hon. Eng. LAWAN ABDULKADIR MONGUNO.
5. Payments of a smaller sum cannot discharge a debt for a greater amount. Is this and
should this b
 6. MKTARI MOHAMMED ABBA’s laptop disappeared from studyroom and
he put a small notice on the department notice board offering N10,000 for its
return. Advise him whether he would have to pay the reward in each of the
following situations:
i. The laptop is returned by Mudasir Idris who did not know of the reward
until after he returned the laptop
ii. The laptop is returned by Karta Madu , the class rep who finds the cat
whilst on his daily lucking of the study after school hours
iii. Anas Ibrahim finds the laptop damaged on the road being run over by a
car and returns.
7. In what circumstances will a promise to perform or performance of an existing duty be
consideration for a promise
8. Specific performance is only available where damages are an inadequate remedy
for a breach of contract of contract.’ Discuss
9. While contract law provides remedies for breach of contract the right to a
remedy the liability for the duty only exists where the plaintiff and the defendant
are parties to the same contract. Explain this statement and give the common
law and statutory exceptions to it.
10. The courts will not enforce a contract which is tainted with illegality.
a. When will a contract be treated as illegal?
b. Why is the distinction between illegal contracts and void contracts significant
11. The law relating to minors contracts is based on two principles. First the minor
should receive some protection from his own commercial inexperience. Second
the law should not cause unnecessary hardship to adults who deal fairly with
minors. Recent reforms have made some slight alteration to the balance between
these principles. Discuss
12. Eng. MU’AWIYA DAUDA GULANI is a manager of a chain of computer factories
owned by Eng. ABDUSSAMAD IDRIS ALI LTD. For some months now there have
been certain management problems relating to three of the factories. The company fells
that this is due to Eng. MU’AWIYA’s casual attitude to his work and promises Eng.
 MU’AWIYA a bonus of N2 million a year if he works to the best of his ability. Eng.
MU’AWIYA accepts this offer.

Advise Eng. MU’AWIYA whether he will be able to claim the bonus should his new
attitude results in increased profits for the company

13. All contracts are based on an agreement but not all agreements are contract.

Explain this statement with reference to decided cases

14. Eng. HARUNA MU’AZU ABDULLAHI, saw a car that he liked in a well known
car dealer show room in Abuja . he thought however that as he was going to the
Motor Show at Wusa he might see a better one. He went into the shop and asked
the salesman to put the car aside until the next day while he made up his mind
and the salesman promised to do so. At the Motor Show, Haruna saw nothing
that he liked better and next morning set out for the shop. On the way he met his
friend USMAN YAU IDRIS in a new car and on closer inspection discovered it
to be the one the salesman had promised to put aside. USMAN told HARUNA
that he bought it the previous afternoon. HARUNA went to the shop and said he
had come to take away the car. The salesman informed him that it was sold. Can
HARUNA sue the shop in contract?
15. Is an intention to create legal relations necessary to form a binding contracthow
does the court ascertain the intention of a contracting party
16. State the facts in the following cases:
1. Carlill vs Carbolic Smoke Ball Co
2. Fisher vs Bell
3. Balfour vs Balfour
4. Curri vs Misa
17. A Consideration need not be adequate, but must be sufficient. Discuss with reference to
decided cases.