COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS FOR VICTIM COMPENSATION IN NIGERIA AND UNITED KINGDOM

Abstract

Nigerian laws recently made provisions for victim compensation through statutes such as the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. This is because, over the years, Nigerian criminal justice system has, as a result of this however, become punitive and its operators have grown increasingly insensitive to the plight and distress of victims of violent crimes. This paper explores the adequacy or otherwise of the legal and institutional framework for victim compensation within the Nigerian criminal justice landscape in comparison with the United Kingdom. The paper adopts the doctrinal methodology by examining existing legislation, case laws and the legal regime in UK. The paper recommends for a major policy reform for a body fully dedicated to care and rehabilitation of victims of crimes other than focusing on punishment of the convict. The paper finds that UK have a more robust mechanism for ensuring victim compensation from which Nigeria should draw workable lessons from.