APPRAISAL OF THE LEGAL CHALLENGES FOR PROTECTION AND REDRESS FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The decline and neglect in the protection, redress and justice to victims of crime in Nigeria and across Africa are alarming and grossly inadequate. The modern or adversarial Criminal Justice System, which only accommodates the State and the offender, has totally neglected crime victims in Nigeria. This is contrary to what we had in the traditional Criminal Justice System where victims of crime were central in the justice process and justice was dispensed in such a manner that all parties involved go home feeling justice was done, because Justice is a three-way Traffic; For the State, Offender and the Victim. A journey through procedural and substantive laws in Nigeria shows that more emphasis is placed on safeguarding the rights of offenders while the legal challenges, for the redress and protection for victims of crime are yet to receive the attention it deserves from the State. This research examines the legal challenges for the protections and redress available to victims of crime, the plight of victims of crime within Nigerian Criminal Justice System, inadequacies of Nigerian laws in addressing the plight of victims of crime and the need to make adequate provision for their protection and redress. The researchers adopted the doctrinal research methodology and utilized both the primary and secondary sources of data drawn from statutes, journal articles, textbooks, newspaper publications and internet materials. This article recommended, amongst others, the amendment of Nigerian criminal laws to accommodate adequate compensation for victims of crime, establishment of compensation scheme dedicated primarily for the compensation and restitution, compensation and protection for victims of crime. Victims have been silent partners in the administration of criminal justice with little or no role other than as witnesses, hence, the need to introduce restorative justice practice into Nigeria Criminal Justice System.