Protecting Witnesses in Nigeria's Justice System: Legal Developments and Practical Realities

Witnesses are essential to the effectiveness of any justice system. Their significance to legal proceedings makes their protection extremely necessary and prudent. However, in a country like Nigeria, witnesses often face different forms of intimidation, persecution, and life-threatening danger that negatively affect their willingness to testify in court. This paper critically examines the legal frameworks and practical realities of witness protection in Nigeria, regarding it primarily as a human right and analysing it from the theoretical viewpoints of natural justice and human rights theory. Using the doctrinal method of data analysis, the paper analyses the country’s current legal framework, highlighting some vital laws and statutes, while identifying their scope of application, limitations, and areas of potential improvement. It also illustrates the most notable deficiencies of Nigeria’s witness protection system by briefly utilising comparative insights from countries like Kenya and South Africa. It then explores other relevant issues and challenges that limit the effectiveness of the country’s witness protection initiatives. The paper concludes with recommendations for improving Nigeria’s justice system including the establishment of an independent witness protection agency, adequate funding, consistent application of protective measures, post-trial witness security, and public awareness of the significance of Witness protection and its value as a human right.