Reconciling with the State: A Narrative Inquiry into the Perspectives of Reconciliation of Wrongfully Convicted Persons in Southern Nigeria

  • Chinyere Erica Chisom

    Student thesis: Doctoral ThesisDoctor of Philosophy

    Abstract

    Wrongfully convicted persons in Nigeria experience numerous harms and losses from their wrongful convictions and face various challenges after their exoneration and release from prison. These adverse effects occur on multiple levels of the wrongfully convicted persons’ relationships and impact these relationships in profound ways. Although legal remedies exist to deal with the aftermath of wrongful convictions in Nigeria, they are grossly inadequate. Reconciliation, an innovative, holistic, and restorative measure, is required to address the impact of these devastating experiences and repair the affected relationships. Grounded in the social contract, human needs, and restorative justice theories, this study employed a qualitative narrative approach to explore with 10 wrongfully convicted persons in Southern Nigeria their perspectives of reconciliation with the Nigerian state. The study findings revealed that the wrongful convictions and incarceration of the participants alienated them from the Nigerian state and disconnected them from other vital relationships. The study also found that the participants held the Nigerian state responsible for their wrongful convictions and believed that the state should restore them and repair their ruptured relationship. The study findings suggest the need for a deeper understanding of the adverse effects of wrongful convictions in Nigeria and an exploration of reconciliation processes to address the post-exoneration challenges of wrongfully convicted and exonerated persons in the country. The insights gained from the study could also stimulate the interest of critical stakeholders in considering the concept of state responsibility for wrongdoing in the aftermath of conflict in the Nigerian criminal justice system.
    Date of AwardJan 1 2024
    Original languageEnglish
    SupervisorIsmael Muvingi (Supervisor), Robin Cooper (Advisor) & Ula S. Zanko (Advisor)

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