A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SCOPE OF VICTIM COMPENSATION UNDER THE NIGERIAN LAW

Abstract

The traditional focus of most criminal justice systems, including Nigeria’s, has largely been on the punishment of offenders. While this is largely true, the Nigerian criminal justice system has, as a result of this, become excessively punitive and its operators have grown increasingly insensitive to the plight and distress of victims of violent crimes. More so, is the fact that the courts have continued to pay little attention to these concerns and they rarely become the subject of civil actions where other collateral claims can be made. This paper aims to appraise the framework regulating the compensation of victims of violent crime in Nigeria Criminal Justice System. The paper further appraises the framework for victim compensation in Nigeria, ascertain its effectiveness, identify lapses and make recommendations where necessary. The paper adopts the doctrinal research methodology through analytical approach, making recourse to primary and secondary sources of law such as statutes, case laws and related opinion of scholars in texts and journal articles among others. The paper finds that victim compensation framework in Nigeria is highly inadequate. The paper recommended the establishment of a victim’s compensation trust fund together with mechanisms for enforcement among other recommendations for a better Nigerian criminal justice sector reform.