Unwholesome Practices in the Administration of Criminal Justice

The administration of criminal justice is the motivation for democracy to thrive in several countries of the world. However, in most states of Nigeria, the administration of justice seems to have been discarded as a result of the sharp practices by lawyers, Magistrates, Judges, those in the customary court and the entire support staff in the Judiciary. Frivolous suits by litigants with the full consent of their counsels in addition to forum shopping is now the trend. Indeed, it is worrisome to note that judgments are now for sale while Those-in-Power have taken advantage of this defect to manipulate the justice system, taking over landed properities of an unspecified number of helpless Nigerians. Without doubt the Judiciary and the legal profession urgently reuqire self-assessment and self-cleansing. Those in the Judiciary ought to stop engaging in unwholesome practices, just as efforts must be geared towards ridding the legal profession of bad eggs, in order to restore public confidence in the administration of justice. The expectation is that the legal profession shall in the nearest future blaze the trail in all human affairs. Note- It is very obvious that all arms of government at all levels need overhauling for quality service delivery. A six month period for repositioning and reorientation is the way to go. Perhaps.
Solomon Adewunmi is the Editor-in-Chief of New Federation (news2day.emyspot.com), People(2day.emyspot.com) and Federationewsday(one.emyspot.com) He attended Ajeromi Ifelodun High School, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos and the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos. He possesses - * BBC/EC CERTIFICATE IN NEWS JOURNALISM (FEB. 2001) * CERTIFICATE IN ARTS AND CULTURE CRITICISM (NANTAP MAY 2001) * CERTIFICATE IN PEACE JOURNALISM (JUSTICE, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE COMMISSION) *CERTIFICATE IN CONFLICT ANALYSIS[UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAMME, OCT.2004] *CERTIFICATE IN INTERFAITH CONFLICT RESOLUTION( UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE, JAN. 2009).

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