Issues and Challenges concerning access to Justice in Nigeria: Clinical Legal Education Aid as a Panacea

The right to remain and be treated as innocent when going through a criminal trial, is, particularly, a hallmark of the dignity of the human person as against the brutish, nasty and naked aggression that characterizes the lifestyle of wildlife in the jungle. However, in Nigeria, these germane rights are usually denied, especially, to the less privileged members of society. It is in this regard, that this study adopts a hybrid method of study in ascertaining the cause of denial of access to justice in Nigeria and if clinical legal education can aid in expanding access to the Nigeria justice system. 321 questionnaires were distributed to various respondents residing in the various geo-political zones in Nigeria. The study found that there is an existence of denial of access to justice in Nigeria and some of the causes of denial of human rights access to justice include; Mal-administration of the criminal justice system, poverty, illiteracy and systemic dysfunction. The study further found that the introduction of clinical legal education could play a vital role, not only in expanding access to justice, but also aid in bridging the gap of human rights abuse in Nigeria. It was, therefore, concluded and recommended that for better access to justice by victims of human rights abuse in Nigeria, there is a need for the government and actors of the justice system in Nigeria to ensure an effective enhancement and improve more on clinical legal education in Nigeria. Keywords: Education, Clinical, Justice, Legal, Nigeria