AN EXAMINATION OF THE CHALLENGES OF VICTIMS OF CRIME UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT, 2015

Abstract

Victims of crime pertinently form an integral part of the Criminal Justice System of every country. However, the tendencies of the Nigerian Criminal Justice Administration is that, it pays greater attention to the plight, interest, and rights of suspect and defendants in criminal cases or the accused person than the victims of crime, to the extent that victims of crime have been seen as being relevant in our criminal justice administration only for the sole purpose of serving as a prosecution witness. This paper examined the challenges of Victims of Crime under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of Nigeria, 2015. However, ACJA 2015 has recognised and given prominence to victims of crime by introducing novel provisions for their protection in courts.¹ However, there are noticeable challenges in some of these victim’s in ACJA, which is hampering the enjoyment of these provisions. The paper examines these challenges faced by the victims of crime under the ACJA 2015 and to proffer solutions to them. In achieving this, the paper adopted the doctrinal research methodology where primary sources such as Statutes and other secondary sources from both local and international were consulted. The paper recommends for the amendment of the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of Nigeria, 2015, in order to enable victims of crime seamlessly enjoy the benefits these provisions of the ACJA, 2015, among others.