Concept of Corruption in the Context of Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria: An Examination

Abstract

Corruption has been on the upsurge despite efforts by Nigerian Government to combat same. The Nigerian government had approached combating the menace by adopting several strategies such as the enactment of Corrupt Practices and Other Related offences Act, 2004, Economic and Financial Crime (establishment etc.) Act, 2004 as well as Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 2004. This paper examined corruption from the perspectives of nature, concept and definition of corruption as well as causes of corruption in Nigeria. The doctrinal method of research, which analytically examined corruption in the context of administration of criminal justice in Nigeria, was adopted and it was found that corrupt top government functionaries are hardly punished or condemned openly when in office. One major problem which Nigeria faces relates to bad leadership. The leaders govern with deceit, insincerity and double standard using their offices and status to cover up their misdeeds. It was found that corrupt top government functionaries are hardly punished or condemned openly when in office. One major problem which Nigeria faces relates to bad leadership. The leaders govern with deceit, insincerity and double standard using their offices and status to cover up their misdeeds.

It was also found that the system of justice has been characterized with delay, too much adherence to legal technicalities, emphasis on the foreign notion of justice etc. In view of this, many accused persons who ought to have been sent to prison often go free. Here, a point of emphasis is that corruption will be on the increase

It is recommended that the governing laws on corruption in Nigeria should be delved to reflect the international policy on combating corruption