EXAMINING THE CONCEPT OF JUSTICE AND ITS APPLICABILITY BY THE COURTS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The course of justice and its applicability is somewhat cumbersome to understand. Justice itself is fairness but what is fair, just and equitable to a person or a people might be unfair or unjust to others. The meaning and understanding of justice is therefore, a herculean task and those saddled with the responsibility to do justice always do their best no matter whose ox is gored. This article therefore, x-rayed the actually pros and cons of justice, its meaning and its connections with other phenomenon such as morality, customs, its applicability in criminal and civil causes, types, factors militating against the proper achievement or propagation of justice in a society, etc. It was recommended among other things that corrupt judges should be prosecuted and convicted if found wanting in any way; those who undermine the rule of law in any given society should be made to face the wrath of the law; the cost of pursuing justice in courts should be less expensive. In conclusion, this work is of the utmost view that justice must be done at all cause or times and that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done in order to rekindle the hope of the ordinary man in the society; there must be fairness and the rule of law in the course of justice. This is aching to the fact that if justice is not done in any given society, the rule of law is eroded and this serves as invitation to anarchy.