Effective Investigations, A Pivot To Efficient Criminal Justice Administration: Challenges In Nigeria

Abstract

This paper identifies the connection between effective criminal investigations and the efficiency of criminal justice administration in Nigeria. It further examines the challenges of criminal investigations and concludes with suggestions for improving criminal investigative activities. Eight challenges of criminal investigations were identified and examined. These challenges are: the low crime reporting culture of the public, paucity of police funding, corruption, inadequate training of police officers in criminal investigations, delayed duplication of investigation case files, missing investigation case files, lack of forensic science facilities and experts; and poor public records keeping. The suggestions proffered for improving criminal investigation activities focus on these eight examined challenges and they cut across issues of funding, legislation, policy change, structural reform, personnel training and intervention by non-governmental organisations as well as other stakeholders.