Effective Administration of Criminal Justice for the Prevention of Corrupt Activities by Public Officials: The Nigerian Position (From Resource Material Series No. 56, P 476-481, 2000, Hiroshi Iitsuka and Rebecca Findlay-Debeck, eds. -- See NCJ-191475)

• NCJ Number: 191511
• Author(s): Onuoha E. Ifeanyi
• Date Published: December 2000
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: Japan
• Note: A paper from the 113th UNAFEI International Training Course, "The Effective Administration of Criminal Justice for the Prevention of Corrupt Activities by Public Officials," August 30-November 18, 1999.

Annotation

In examining Nigeria's administration of criminal justice to prevent corrupt activities by public officials, this paper discusses the pervasiveness of such corruption in Nigeria, reasons for corruption, existing measures and mechanisms for control of corruption, relevant criminal law provisions, obstacles to action against corruption, a strategy to prevent public officials' corrupt activities, and international cooperation in corruption cases.

Abstract

Corruption is pervasive in Nigerian society and in the public life of the Nation, although available crime statistics over a 10-year period show that the incidence of official corruption is insignificant compared with the national crime level. Factors that contribute to corruption are mass illiteracy, general poverty and frustration, a conflict of values, the weakness of social and governmental enforcement mechanisms, tribal sentiments, and nepotism. In many cases, political office has become the primary means of acquiring wealth, and there is a general lack of commitment to improving the general welfare and to obedience to the Nation's laws. Existing measures for the control of official corruption in Nigeria include criminal/penal codes, law enforcement agencies, the courts, special investigative agencies, judicial/administrative tribunals of inquiry, and pressure by community organizations concerned about public corruption. Factors that impede action against corruption are the Official Secrets Act, inadequate investigative resources, the lack of personnel training and equipment, low morale among some enforcement agencies, a low reporting rate for official corruption, and unclear legal provisions pertinent to official corruption. A recommended strategy to prevent corrupt activities by public officials includes a simultaneous attack on corruption in both the public and private sectors, clear legal definitions regarding what constitutes official corruption, and the establishment of a National Corruption Control Commission. This paper concludes with a description of international cooperation in efforts to address the transnational consequences of corruption by Nigerian officials.