THE PHILOSOPHICAL QUEST FOR JUSTICE IN THE NIGERIAN SOCIETY

Abstract

Human society is socially configured in a manner that dispute becomes inevitable. Due to human interaction, there is the need for conflict management and resolution. In other to achieve a just and fair resolution, the quest for justice becomes the basis of any society. The concept of justice is as old as man itself. It is a moral and political concept with no equivocal definition. The whole idea of law and legal theories is towards the attainment of justice.  The quest for justice in any society is predicated on the whole fabrics of the society including the philosophy, culture, moral, religion, and tradition. Where pursuit of justice is not attained, injustice will strive and where justice cannot be served to the common man, the society will be in comatose as the people may resort to self-help. The authors therefore argue that pursuit of justice is essential in nation building as it builds the confidence of the masses in the various institutions. The paper examines the concept of justice in Nigerian society and the obstacles affecting the realization of justice. The paper concludes the need for institutional reforms among other things as a panacea to achieving justice in our legal system.