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Abstract

This paper examines the challenges confronting the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria with a view to underscore its implication with regards to the prevalence of kidnapping. In order to achieve the objective of the study, qualitative method – in-depth interviews and key informant interviews were utilized in generating data from 60 interviewees. The qualitative data generated from the study was analyzed using a manual content analysis. The study shows that corruption, inadequate court rooms and facilities, poor working condition, frequency in the transfer of police officers, uncooperative attitude of GSM operators, delay emanating from legal practitioners and Director of public prosecution, as well as lack of operating vehicles were some of the major challenges confronting the administration of criminal justice in the prosecution of kidnap cases. Based on the findings, it is recommended that government should stop paying lip service to the fight against corruption but instead take concrete steps to stem the rising tide. Besides a review of the conditions of service of the police, prison and judicial officers, there is the need to provide functional vehicles to the various prison authorities as well as renovating and refurbishing dilapidated buildings and furniture in the various courts.

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