The Nigeria Court of Appeal and Criminal Litigation

Abstract

Criminal litigation is the process via which a state brings to justice persons who have violated laid down rules and procedures within its territory. Primarily, crime is committed against a State even when individuals are direct victims. To be able to provide a means of checks and balances and ensure that no errors occur in the attempt to mete out justice to any offender; an individual is assumed to be innocent until when proved guilty. Nigeria judicial system put in place several courts with criminal justice system, while some are creation of the Constitution some are not. The Court of Appeal being a creation of the Constitution is a superior court in Nigeria and exercises both appellate and original jurisdiction in criminal matters in Nigeria. This paper therefore, x-rays the creation of the Court of Appeal; its composition and jurisdiction. This is done with a view of examining the role the Court of Appeal has played in the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria.