Some principles of the law of trusts in West Africa

“Of all the exploits of equity, the largest and the most important is the invention and development of the trust.” These were the words of Maitland.2 In the course of his lecture, the learned professor ascribed the invention of the Law of trusts to the work of English lawyers. Before going any further, it should be pointed out that the institution of trusts is one which is not peculiar to English law.