Towards Realization of Criminal Justice System in Nigeria: The Hope of Common Persons in Society

Abstract

This paper examined the realization of criminal justice system in Nigeria, the hope of common persons. The criminal
justice system helps in addressing such infringements for overall well-being of society. However, the Nigeria criminal
justice system has fundamental defects and flaws as manifest in every process of system from the police, judiciary
and correctional service as it affects common persons. This paper examines the reality of criminal justice system in
Nigeria, the hope of common persons. Marxist theoretical framework is adopted for the study. The study’s
methodology was derived strictly from secondary data, such as official state documents and government reports. The
study found that criminal justice system in Nigeria operates on cash and carry justice as such chasing the common
persons out of justice. Unfortunately, from the police to the judiciary and correctional service, the system operates
strictly on financial inducement (money bags) which common persons cannot afford. The study recommends that, the
National Assembly should make laws that will empower the government to make independent bodies such as
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to strictly oversee or monitor only the activities of criminal
justice system in Nigeria. The primary duty and responsibility of the criminal justice system is to dispense justice in
accordance to the rule of law. However, in practice the criminal justice system determines the guilt nor innocence of
potential suspects, and the allocation of fair and proportional punishment to the offenders.