Emerging disclosure regime in criminal proceedings in Nigeria

This article reviews the emerging disclosure regime in criminal proceedings in Nigeria and its future prospects. Until recently the Laws governing the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria contain very little provisions governing disclosure in criminal proce­edings. The recent reform of the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws in Nigeria have also not addressed the need to provide adequate rules governing disclosure in criminal proceedings. The paper exa­mines the provisions on disclosure obligations in criminal trials in Practice Directions of two Courts exercising criminal jurisdiction in Nigeria. The examination reveals that the provisions of the Practice Directions are designed to address case management issues and not specifically to regulate disclosure obligations of the prosecution and defence. The article charts the direction that the regulation of dis­closure obligations in criminal proceedings in Nigeria should follow.