What is the just response to crime?: the study of political corruption and conventional crimes in Nigeria

The issue of criminal justice and the just responses to different types of crimes are very important to many countries and have been advanced by studies of radical criminologists in the western world. Post-colonial countries who underwent arduous period of transition consider it specifically burdensome to create justice for all. The phenomenon of political corruption has been addressed by different studies, but the issue of just responses to crimes in Nigeria are not explored. The post-colonial Nigerian state has been affected by political corruption that has resulted in a prejudiced or unfair criminal justice system: the system that treats the elites/rich and poor differently. This thesis critically addresses the issue of national and international responses towards two distinct types of criminality: political corruption and conventional crimes, in order to promote the understanding of the issue of justice in Nigerian society. By engaging in thematic media analysis, legal analysis and analysis of criminal statistics, this thesis explores the issue of justice and the significances of the impacts of national and international bodies on the development of criminal justice system responses to crime. Based on the findings, this thesis argues that political corruption in Nigeria is a crime with greater interest but lesser punishment, while conventional criminality in Nigeria is a crime of lesser interest but comes with greater punishment. Drawing on the findings that if the war against corruption in Nigeria is to be effective, the status quo (injustice or bias against conventional offenders and the impunity enjoyed by the elites) must be addressed.