AN APPRAISAL OF THE RIGHTS OF THE VICTIMS OF CRIME IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

In administration of criminal justice system in Nigeria, victims of crime are faced with the problem of inadequate compensation. No doubt, In Nigeria anybody could be a victim of crime, and the society is exposed to a high level of criminality which calls for effort to tackle the trend and alleviate the plights of the victim of such violent crime. The underlying principle in the promotion of rights of the victim of crime is to ensure that they are assisted in recovering from the trauma of criminal violations. Therefore, this paper examined the administration of criminal justice system in Nigeria whether the existing provision on compensation and restitution orders are satisfactory or adequate in our present-day society. Whether there is any legal framework in existence that ensures that a victim of crime obtains adequate compensation where such victims suffer harm, injury or damages as a result of commission of crime by another. Are there other options for these victims to alleviate their problems as monetary compensation may not be the only solution? On a daily basis, different crimes are committed and at times the offenders are neither found nor arrested. The salient question is what happened to a victim of crime who is a party in the Nigerian criminal justice system at the end of the criminal trial.