Justice For All: Evaluating Access To Justice In Nigeria Through The Lens Of The Administration Of Criminal Justice Act, 2015
Chinedu Oluwaseyi Adekunle
Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
Fatima Aminat Mohammed
Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
Abstract
Access to justice is a cornerstone for the protection of human rights and the rule of law in Nigeria. However, the country faces significant challenges in this regard, including delays, high litigation costs, complex legal procedures, and a lack of legal awareness. Corruption further compounds these issues. This article explores the critical role of unimpeded access to the justice system in enforcing various rights, including human and contractual rights. The article also highlights the potential benefits of implementing innovative approaches like restorative justice and victim-offender mediation, which can benefit not only the state and offenders but also victims of crimes. Additionally, the adoption of case flow management, front-loading of cases, pretrial conferences, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes has the potential to reduce delays and lower litigation costs significantly