Elusive Justice? An Assessment of Child Justice in the Tripartite Court System in Nigeria
Elusive Justice? An Assessment of Child Justice in the Tripartite Court System in Nigeria

Summary/Abstract: There are three courts with different theoretical underpinning administering child justice in Nigeria. The Juvenile Court is premised on the rehabilitative ideal but researches have shown that the apparatus to fulfill this ideal is non-existent. The Sharia Court composition is radically different and the procedure used in such courts follow strict Islamic legal precepts. Invariably, child offenders are not given adequate protection guaranteeing justice. Prior Work: This article assesses child justice in these courts to determine the extent of protection of child offenders. They are young, immature and very vulnerable. Over the years, various studies have demonstrated the need for change in the above courts. Value: Based on law, the article examines the provisions creating the new Family Courts. These provisions accord with international juvenile justice standards established to grant justice to such offenders. The Family Court, just as it is being used for several purposes in other jurisdictions, is a recent development in Nigeria. Implications: This article assesses the structure and procedure of this new court and proposes it as being best suited for child offenders.

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