INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES AND JUSTICE OUTCOMES IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA: ASSESSING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS AN INSTRUMENT OF REPRESSION OR AGENT OF JUSTICE

The criminal justice system in contemporary Nigeria occupies a paradoxical position as both an instrument of repression and a potential agent of justice. This article critically examines this duality through a qualitative and doctrinal analysis of laws, institutional practices, and judicial outcomes between 2020 and 2025. Drawing upon Conflict Theory, Structural Functionalism, and Labeling Theory, it explores how the Nigerian Police Force, the judiciary, and correctional institutions simultaneously uphold and undermine the rule of law. Findings reveal persistent patterns of police brutality, political interference, corruption, and prolonged pre-trial detention that perpetuate repression. However, emerging judicial reforms, civil society advocacy, and technological innovations demonstrate a gradual shift toward fairness and accountability. The article concludes that Nigeria’s criminal justice system remains structurally imbalanced but retains transformative potential, provided reforms are sustained through institutional independence, transparency, and civic participation.