Rivers State University Journal of Public Law

Abstract
Self-determination is the process by which a country determines its own statehood and forms its own
government. The right of self-determination is paramount as a crucial aspect of the broader
international law. The right of self-determination evinces two cardinal perspectives which are the
independence from colonialism and secession from existing sovereign entities. This paper positions the
right of self-determination as an inalienable legal right and finds that the quest for secession as evident
in Nigeria and Ukraine can be traced to the vagueness and un-clarity of the right of self-determination
as contained in the United Nations Charter; a situation which has occasioned conflict in several states
where the question of legality of secession remains unanswered. As it has never been enough to assert
human rights, without considering the procedure for implementation of rights. The paper recommends
a novel and effective legal procedure for implementation of the right of self-determination.

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