Rule of law as a panacea for combatting organised crime in Nigeria

Organised crime can be likened to a scourge that undermines state authority, threatens public safety, stunts socio-economic development and represses access to justice. When public institutions are weak and the law is not functional, criminal groups exploit these loopholes in the system to carry out unhindered criminal activities. Corruption has been identified as one of the drivers of organised crime. When corrupt public officials involve themselves or cavort with criminal groups, they subvert the course of justice and invest in higher crimes with bigger rewards. To discourage and combat the relationship between the state and organised crime in Nigeria, the rule of law must be the foundation upon which anti-organised crime strategies are built. This is because an entrenched rule of law is pivotal in strengthening state institutions. Using the doctrinal research method, this paper analyzes the role of corruption in organised crime in Nigeria and proffers solutions, which include intergovernmental collaborations, government partnership with the private sector, combating corruption in public institutions, the establishment of community policing, and the reform of the judiciary by taking a cue from the successful rule of law measures which have been implemented in Albania.