UNFAIRNESS, INEQUITY AND INJUSTICE: A SCRUTINY OF THE PROSECUTION OF WHITE AND BLUE COLLAR CRIMES UNDER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study  notes the  societal permissibility and prosecution of white collar crimes as against blue  collar crimes in Nigeria.  White  collar  crimes  which  are  mainly  perpetrated  by  the  elite,  top  government  officials,  top  university administrators,  bankers  and  political  class  in  Nigeria  include  tax  evasion,  money  Laundering,  fraud,  blackmail,, embezzlement,  extortion,  forgery,  insider  trading,  insurance  fraud,  investment  schemes,  securities  fraud,  and  forgery.  On  the  other  hand,  blue-collar  crimes  include  robbery,  stealing,  burglary,  assault,  drug  abuse  and  are executed  by  the  less  privileged,  poor  and  illiterates.    The  work  explores  the  consequences  of  these  crimes  on  the Nigerian society especially whether victims secure justice and if there are any forms ofdiscrimination or inequality in the trial of blue collar criminals and white collar criminal. The findings of this research shows that  white collar criminals are not likely to be caught for execution of such crimes and may also not be tried and if prosecuted may receive  less  sentencing  than  street  criminals  who  have  a  higher  chance  of  being  caught  in  their  wrongdoings  and may  even  face  jungle  justice.  Law  enforcements  agencies  most  times  go  extra  miles  to  detect  white  collar  crimes since  these  criminals  are  protected  by  law  enforcement  officers  at  the  same  time.  The  white  collar  criminals  can afford  expensive  legal  representation  in  their  defence  and  secure  the  least  potential  punishment  while  street criminals  cannot  afford  such  costly  retainership  which  renders  them  somehow  unprotected  under  the  criminal justice system. The work concludes that not only are white collar criminals socially and politically accepted, but are even celebrated unlike the street criminals in Nigeria