CHAPTER 1----INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The federal republic of Nigeria's constitution upholds the right to life. According to section 3(1) of the Nigerian constitution of 1999, everyone has the right to life and no one shall be intentionally deprived of his or her life except in the execution of a court sentence in respect of a criminal offense for which he or she has been found guilty. This means that every citizen of the world, rich or poor, has the right to respect for his or her life and safety. As a result, murdering a human being is considered heinous in all countries. Sadly, in recent years, several regions of the nation have lost all respect for human life and have begun killing people for no apparent reason. This has led to the growth of jungle justice in Nigeria as a result of the current strife and warfare in our society. This practice has claimed the lives of many Nigerians, including some who were not given a fair chance to defend themselves. In order to stop this heinous behavior, it's critical that all the people involved in enforcing the law take their responsibilities seriously. The term "jungle justice" refers to a kind of mob justice that is common in Nigeria and other African societies. When a criminal is subjected to humiliation, beating, or summary execution by a mob of vigilantes, it is referred to be a kind of vigilante justice. Judiciary and law enforcement authorities are ineffective because of the use of jungle justice. It's important to remember, however, that the rule of jungle justice holds that anybody found guilty of killing someone deliberately is accountable. As a result, the illegal taking of a person's life just because they were caught in the act does not justify it. It is a requirement of the law that such individuals be turned over to the authorities so that they may be tried and convicted. The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of Nigeria's jungle justice system on the country's criminal justice system.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The legality of the provision of the constitution for the right to life and safety of persons cannot be undermined. However, the increasing rate of criminality in the society and the continuous delay in the dispensation of criminal justice has led to wide provocation among the public to take laws into their hands. Jungle justice is inhuman and barbaric but the harmful effect of criminal elements on innocent citizen in recent time has led to the rise in the execution of jungle justice. Innocent citizen on daily basis are been subjected to criminal attack which has led to the loss of many lives and properties. It is essential that the reason against jungle justice be backed with an effective judiciary system and security system so as to enhance the security of lives and properties of innocent and law abiding citizens. The study seek to investigate the effect of jungle justice on the criminal justice system in Nigeria.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main study objective is to investigate the effect of jungle justice on the criminal justice system in Nigeria; while the specific objectives of the study include;
1 To appraise the nature and causes of jungle justice.
2 To determine the relevance of the criminal justice system.
3 To determine the effect of jungle justice on the criminal justice system in Nigeria.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1 What is the nature and causes of jungle justice?
2 What is the relevance of the criminal justice system?
3 What is the effect of jungle justice on the criminal justice system in Nigeria?
1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
Ho1: There is no significant effect of jungle justice on the criminal justice system in Nigeria.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The increase of criminal activities and the harmful effect on innocent citizens call for a re-assessment of the effectiveness of the judiciary system in Nigeria. The study calls for more rigorous functions of security agencies and the effectiveness of the judiciary system as a panacea for the elimination of jungle justice in Nigeria.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study focuses on the effect of jungle justice on the criminal justice system in Nigeria.
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The study was confronted with logistic and geographical constraint.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DEFINED
These constitute a set of agencies and processes established by governments to eradicate crime and impose penalties on offenders of the law. This consist of five components which include law enforcement, prosecution, defense attorneys, courts, and corrections, each playing significant function in the criminal justice process.
HUMAN RIGHT DEFINED
Human rights are the rights indispensable to meaningful human existence which every person every have by virtue of being a human being. This include civil, political, economic, social, cultural, group, solidarity and development rights.
LEGAL RIGHT DEFINED
Legal human rights are those human rights that are guaranteed by positive law.
MORAL RIGHT DEFINED
Moral rights are claims which ought to be in the positive law
.