Donnish Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution

January 2018 Vol. 4(1), pp. 001-010

Copyright © 2018 Donnish Journals

Original Research Article

Sentencing and the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria

Udosen Jacob Idem¹* and Nkokom Eyo Udofia²

¹Lecturer, School of Continuing Education, Law Diploma Programme, University of Uyo, Nigeria.
²Lecturer, Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Uyo, Nigeria.

Corresponding Author's Email: idemudosen@gmail.com

Accepted 30th December, 2017.

Abstract

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At Common Law and in Nigeria, the administration of Criminal Justice embodies a method through which the administration of Criminal law establishes procedures aimed at fair, just and speedy determination of guilt or innocence of any person accused of committing a crime. The Court at the end of trial is empowered to deliver judgment upon the defendant after his conviction and imposed sentence on him usually in form of a fine, imprisonment or other punishments. This paper takes a look at the aims of the criminal punishment. It further examines kinds of punishment available in Nigeria. The discourse also analyses disparity in sentencing and factors affecting them. It ends with recommendations inter alia that our courts should no longer focus attention entirely on the punishment of offenders through deterrence and retribution theories but should also have recourse to other punishment theories such as reformatory, preventive and restorative.

Keywords: Trial courts, Criminal justice, Judgment, Sentence, Evidence.

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Cite This Article:

Udosen Jacob Idem and Nkokom Eyo Udofia. Sentencing and the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria. Donnish Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution 4(1) 2018 pp. 001-010.