THE ROLE OF NIGERIA POLICE FORCE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

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THE ROLE OF NIGERIA POLICE FORCE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

ABSTRACT

This study examined the role of Nigerian Police Force in the administration of justice issues and challenges.  The study was carried out in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State in particular.  The methodology employed in this study was survey method and its involves both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Primary data were collected from four hundred (400) Officers and Men of the Force, Jos North Area Command, Plateau state, whom were selected at a random, with the aid of questionnaire and in – depth interview. Tables, graphics and simple percentage comparison were used to analyse the data and the following deductions and inferences were subsequently made. That, the Nigeria Police Force is confronted with a lot of challenges, ranging from: corruption and political influence, lack/shortage of manpower, poor welfare services and lack of modern/sophisticated the administration of justice facilities/equipment. The paper therefore recommends among others; that the police should be free and independent from any ministry/political office; the police should have an annual recruitment process that will provide available qualitative and quantitative personnel; there is equally need for the provision of proper and qualitative welfare services to the force, and; the provision of needed facilities/equipment like modern weapons and taking due advantage of existing the administration of justice gadgets to constantly checkmate criminalities.

          

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The phenomenon, “crime” has been a major subject of private and public concern throughout human history. No society is free of crime. However, the question often asked is that even if crime is part of inevitable human behaviour, how much of it can a society tolerate? This question is linked to man’s natural instinct for survival, the ability to respond to any threat to his life and property. Crime poses such a threat, particularly in its violent form.

The recent upsurge in violent crimes in Nigeria has created enormous uncertainty in the security of lives and property of individuals and of social stability in general. The incidents of traditional crimes such as armed robbery, arson, drug trafficking and abuse, murder, kidnapping, rape, hired assassinations and ritual killings are examples of the most serious and violent crimes which have been on the increase in the recent past. Correspondingly, White Collar Crimes in the form of Advance Fee Fraud (popularly, known as 419), contract deals, embezzlement and mismanagement in both the public and private sectors are also on the increase. The aggregate of the traditional crimes mostly committed by the less privileged and white collar crimes mostly committed by the highly placed call for a change in the strategies for the prevention and control of crime in Nigeria, The existing patterns in criminal activities show that criminals are getting more organized, sophisticated and brutal in the manner they carry out their dastardly acts, either in the way they physically attack individuals with dangerous weapons or the method they use in taking advantage of their official positions to steal and stash away millions of public funds in foreign and domestic accounts. Equally worrisome is the new dimension in organized criminal behaviour in Nigeria involving acts of terrorism and sabotage against individuals and public places. Recent incidents, in which some individual were stalked and eventually trapped in the volley of bullets from assault weapons, depict the viciousness of violent criminals. These acts are usually well-planned, orchestrated, syndicated and organized in the mafia-type fashion. In addition to these new patterns of violent crimes against persons, there is also the equally disturbing criminal behaviour against the Nigerian economy leading to the collapse of financial institutions and government parastatals.

Consequently, crime has constituted a threat to the economic, political and social security of Nigeria. It discourages both local and foreign investments, decreases the quality of life, destroys human and social capital, damages relationship between citizens and the states, and more so, it undermines the rule of law, democracy, and ability of the country to uphold development (Adebayo, 2013).

To tackle this menace, the Criminal Justice System (CJS) is empowered by the Nigerian government to check the scourge. Out of the three agencies of the CJS; police, courts, and the prisons, the police are at the forefront to control crime (Ofolokunbi, 1986). According to Section 214 (1) of the Nigerian constitution, the government of Nigeria only recognizes a single police force (Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and empowers it with the statutory responsibility of “detection and prevention of crime, apprehending and prosecution of criminals, protection of lives and property of citizens, enforcement and maintenance of laws and order”. It was later in 1966 that the function of ensuring “free flow of traffic especially in cities was added (Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999).

In ensuring security of life and property which is the primary function of any government, the place of the police cannot be over-emphasized. It is the duty of the police to ensure the protection of lives and properties, the maintenance of law and order and the observance of the ethical values of the society.  The police therefore act to uphold the social norms and standards and the established law in every society, they apply criminal law to do justice to all and sundry.  Therefore Nigerian police force is charged with the responsibility of maintaining law, order and internal security, especially as they affect protection of lives and property of the entire populace in addition to other functions that will enhance tranquility and harmony in the country. In the administration of criminal justice in the country, the police are the very first institution that a criminal suspect comes in contact with and Whether or not the suspect will obtain justice depends on how the police go about its business.

As the Nigerian society progresses, especially with the advent of the present democratic system of government, new forms of violent crimes have also emerged and the society has become more insecure with many people getting involved in diverse sophisticated criminal activities (Bayley and Shearing, 2001). This poses as a serious challenge to the Nigeria Police Force in their attempt to control crime in the country. Daily, cases of crime are reported in the media, and in most instances, the police appear helpless to control the situation. In some instances, crimes do occur, and the presence of the police is not felt at all. This indicates that there are challenges confronting the police in their the administration of justice initiative; thereby making them not to perform optimally in their constitutional task.

Based on the foregoing, this study seeks to examine the  role of Nigerian Police Force in the administration of justice issues and challenges.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The persistent security problems and the inability of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to control crime are worrisome. Among all the security agencies in the country, the NPF is mandated by the constitution to be at the forefront of supplying internal security and control crime. Sadly, in carrying out this mandate, the NPF appears incapable of controlling the enormous crime problems the country is facing presently. Instead of witnessing effective and efficient policing from the NPF, citizens and foreigners residing and doing business in the country are seeing a weak police force incapable of addressing existing and emerging crime problems in the country.

It is on this note that this study emerged to examine role of Nigerian Police Force in the administration of justice issues and challenges.

1.3 Research Questions

The following research questions guided this study

  • What are the main challenges confronting the NPF in their bid to ensure effective Justice Administration in Nigeria?
  • Does the NPF have the capacity to effective administration of Justice in Nigeria?
  • What are the strategies adopted by NPF to ensure effective Justice Administration in Nigeria?
  • What are the possible solutions to address the challenges NPF are facing in their bid to control crime in Jos North L.G.A?

 1.4 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study was to examine role of Nigerian Police Force in the administration of justice issues and challenges. This objective was achieved in collaboration with the following specific objectives:

  • to examine the main challenges of the NPF in the administration of justice in Nigeria;
  • to find out whether the NPF has the capacity for effective Justice Administration in Nigeria;
  • To determine the strategies adopted by the NPF for effective Justice Administration in Nigeria; and
  • to proffer solutions that will serve as possible recommendations for the amelioration of challenges confronting the NPF in the administration of justice in Nigeria.

1.5 Research Hypotheses

  • There is no significant relationship between the challenges faced by the NPF and the administration of justice .
  • There is no significant relationship between the capacity of the NPF and effective the administration of justice .

1.6  Significance of the Study

This study on the Nigeria Police Force and the challenges of the administration of justice will be relevant to the police in the development of criminal justice administration by the police force in Nigeria.  Similarly, the work will equally be important to other law enforcement agencies, as they may use it for designing plans and methods to be used in tackling crime and criminal problems. Furthermore, its findings will be useful to government and other relevant agencies in improving their provisions of operational facilities to the police and other security agencies to aid the administration of justice.

Also, the work will also serve as relevant material for further research in this area. It will also add to the existing literature on the challenges faced by the police force in justice administration in Nigeria.

1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study

The scope of this study was limited to Jos North L.G.A, Plateau State. In order to examine the challenges of the Nigerian Police Force in justice administration, Plateau State Police Command alone was considered. The reason was that, the stipulated time given for the study did not allow the researcher to cover other Police Commands in other states of the federation.

Apart from this, the researcher had no sufficient funds to go beyond the study area.

THE ROLE OF NIGERIA POLICE FORCE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

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