ANYOGU FELICIA

There are two basic types of marriage in Nigeria, the Monogamous and the Polygamous types of marriage noted for one man, one woman to the exclusion of others, and one man, one woman potentially admitting the intrusion of others respectively. There are however three forms of marriage, two (Customary and Islamic) potentially Polygamous and the other, the Act Marriage which is Monogamous. In Nigeria, people sometimes go through at least two processes of Marriage. Whether the marriage is pure Act Marriage or Church Marriage, it almost in all cases, starts with the Customary Marriage, as marriage in Nigeria in whatever form, is seen as the coming together of not only the couple but also their families. The plurality of Laws governing and controlling the various forms of marriage in Nigeria has on one hand created a confusing intrusion of one form into another, and also different levels of protection for the parties involved.

There are two basic types of marriage in Nigeria, the Monogamous and the Polygamous types of marriage noted for one man, one woman to the exclusion of others, and one man, one woman potentially admitting the intrusion of others respectively. There are however three forms of marriage, two (Customary and Islamic) potentially Polygamous and the other, the Act Marriage which is Monogamous. In Nigeria, people sometimes go through at least two processes of Marriage. Whether the marriage is pure Act Marriage or Church Marriage, it almost in all cases, starts with the Customary Marriage, as marriage in Nigeria in whatever form, is seen as the coming together of not only the couple but also their families. The plurality of Laws governing and controlling the various forms of marriage in Nigeria has on one hand created a confusing intrusion of one form into another, and also different levels of protection for the parties involved.

In any situation, whether in a Court room, work place, school or even a playground, everyone wants to be treated fairly. Everyone feels they deserve equal and impartial treatment. For this reason, justice is the hallmark of a good society. Various definitions of justice exist according to dictionaries authors, philosophers and judicial decisions. It is the behaviour to oneself or to another which is strictly in accord with currently accepted ethical law, or as decreed by legal authority. While criminal justice seeks to punish for wrongdoing or compensate for injury, social justice is concerned with the distribution of benefits and burdens in a society. Social justice ensures that men and women, and children get what is due to them equally. This in turn brings about empowerment of all concerned. Female empowerment in Nigeria is an economic process that involves emancipation of women as a poverty reduction measure. It is the development of women in terms of politics, social and economic strength towards national development. It alludes to the expansion and enhancement of the social, financial, political and legitimate quality of women, to guarantee levels appropriate to them and to make them sufficiently sure to assert their rights. The observation is that many women in Nigeria and indeed in other jurisdictions in Africa are comparatively deprived socially, economically and politically in relation to their male counterparts and since these deprivations are mainly socioeconomically based, a second look at social and criminal justice in Nigeria becomes imminent. This paper seeks to, using doctrinal method with the help of books, journal articles and internet sources explore the interface and correlation of justice be it criminal or social and the empowerment of women ultimately to create a nexus and proffer necessary solutions.

In any situation, whether in a Court room, work place, school or even a playground, everyone wants to be treated fairly. Everyone feels they deserve equal and impartial treatment. For this reason, justice is the hallmark of a good society. Various definitions of justice exist according to dictionaries authors, philosophers and judicial decisions. It is the behaviour to oneself or to another which is strictly in accord with currently accepted ethical law, or as decreed by legal authority. While criminal justice seeks to punish for wrongdoing or compensate for injury, social justice is concerned with the distribution of benefits and burdens in a society. Social justice ensures that men and women, and children get what is due to them equally. This in turn brings about empowerment of all concerned. Female empowerment in Nigeria is an economic process that involves emancipation of women as a poverty reduction measure. It is the development of women in terms of politics, social and economic strength towards national development. It alludes to the expansion and enhancement of the social, financial, political and legitimate quality of women, to guarantee levels appropriate to them and to make them sufficiently sure to assert their rights. The observation is that many women in Nigeria and indeed in other jurisdictions in Africa are comparatively deprived socially, economically and politically in relation to their male counterparts and since these deprivations are mainly socioeconomically based, a second look at social and criminal justice in Nigeria becomes imminent. This paper seeks to, using doctrinal method with the help of books, journal articles and internet sources explore the interface and correlation of justice be it criminal or social and the empowerment of women ultimately to create a nexus and proffer necessary solutions.

death penalty still a pride of place in the statute books of nigeria, and the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria 1999 does not prohibit its application it however seems that there has been an extension to the application of the death penalty to include acts that ordinarily should be issues of morality....

It would seem that the legal abrasion and subjugation faced by females in Africa knows no bounds or age. The international Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provides that "everybody has the right to attain the highest possible standard of health" and this includes the right to reproductive health for all. In relation to females this includes the ability to have a satisfying and safe sex life. Unfortunately in the area of satisfying and safe sex life to say the least, culture has introduced a stricture for women in the form of Female Genital Mutilation. This practice is rife among many cultural groups in Nigeria and indeed some other African communities. This paper will explore the practice in Nigerian communities and x-ray the legal abrasions attendant in this practice. Recommendations as to the way forward shall also be proffered.

inequality and discrimination have shaped women's experiences in almost all spheres of human endeavour. The drug industry is no exception. In the mind of the public, drug, it's use and every thing associated with it conjures up an image of men and the masculine gender. This is not too remote from the reality as men indeed are in the majority of those who use and sell drugs. Like in every sector of human existence in Nigeria, some control system has been put in place to monitor and punish the misuse and sale of hard drugs. Despite the punitive drug laws, policies and control systems heap a great burden on women resulting in their being disproportionately affected and negatively impacted in issues concerning the drug industry. This paper seeks to examine the drug control system consisting of the harsh drug laws and the lopsided policies, laced with discriminatory attitudes, and how it affects men and women, ultimately to x-ray the disproportionate impact on women in Nigeria.