Victimology, Victimisation And Victims Access To Justice In Nigeria

This book examines the importance of access to justice as an essential instrument for the protection of human rights in Nigeria. The conceptual framework of victimology, victimocracy and victimization. It starts by discussing the various problems that are confronted by victims in ensuring that justice is done to their cases, we strengthened our argument by examining the theories of victimization. It is interesting to note that; it is only when an individual victim who is perceived to be victimized has access to courts that his or her fundamental rights can be enforced. The paper then looks at the reality of the Nigeria situation and posits that there are a number of obstacles to the realization of access to justice in the country. These obstacles such as: undue delay in the administration of criminal justice, high cost of litigation, reliance on technical rules, locus standi, illiteracy, fear of attack by offenders. With regards to offenders - victims' relationship, political influence and weak criminal justice system are then examined in turn, in validation of the proposition. It further looks at the prospects for improvement of access to justice in Nigeria.