PRE-TRIAL DETENTION IN THE NIGERIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: A CALL FOR REFORM

Abstract

The Nigerian Criminal justice system is under severe strain. This strain has been occasioned by the sheer intractable weight of the pre-trial persons or Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs) in custody. As of June 2013 the number of pre-trial persons in prison custody was 36,983¹ out of a total prison population of 53,841. In effect, 65.9 percent of the prison inmates were ATPs. This situation is not only a time bomb but a severe blight on the criminal justice system. Efforts made by government over the years to bring a solution has proved ineffective. This paper investigates the causes for this state of affairs and proffers recommendations on how to best tackle the menace.