IN SEARCH OF JUSTICE IN A POLARIZED NIGERIAN STATE: A JURISPRUDENTIAL APPROACH

Abstract

Equal rights and treatment of all citizens in relation to their liberty entails justice in the simplest form. The equal rights must be extended to social, economic and political strata to shun unfair competition. However in an increasingly polarized society like ours will concept of justice ever be same as in other civilized societies? Appointment of judicial officers in a [polarized] society is not often based on most qualified but on who will serve the very sectional or certain interests, if appointed? This has left society with abstract justice and more and more separated from citizens. Society seems to have lost interest in the very essence of justice and often resort to violence. The work examines whether a balance in the administration of justice can really be maintained in a polarized state. Are there options open to us still, to amend the existing situation and achieve substantial justice in all spheres? Doctrinal approach is employed in the course of this work. The study found that options abound but amendments must be made in our laws and in the scheme of policies, if substantial justice will ever be achieved in our society.