APPLICATION AND SCOPE OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS PROTECTION ACT IN NIGERIA: A CRITIQUE

Abstract

This article examines the scope and application of the Public Officers Protection Act in Nigeria. It discusses who public officers are in Nigeria and the different public officers protected by the Act. This paper also discusses the development and application of the Public Officers Protection Act in Nigeria, the scope of the Act including exceptions thereto. It examines the limitations on the enforcement of the Act and decided cases in which the Act is applied. With the aid of decided cases, it discusses the injustice and hardship created by the Act as some cases are struck out because they are caught by the limitation period of three months. The Public Protection Act being a product of colonial administration has long outlived its usefulness. There is a need for urgent reform as it hampers the process of justice administration. It is therefore recommended that the Act be reviewed. Though some states in Nigeria have taken a step forward by reviewing their Public Officer Protection Laws, it is recommended that same should be done at the federal level.