COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA TRIAL OF CORRUPTION CASES IN NIGERIA

The role of communication in the unending trend of corruption cases in Nigeria over the years was the main concern of the paper. Do Nigerians understand the extent to which inadequate communication, can hinder their nation’s development? Are there conscious efforts to effectively sensitize citizens on the subject? These questions influenced the use of ‘Interview’ as a data gathering instrument in which 20 respondents made up of media professionals, legal experts and some court clerks were interrogated. In order to underscore the adverse conditions of the past as a guide to current developments, a chronological historical narrative of the origin and development of corruption in Nigeria’s public sector was undertaken. It was revealed that inappropriate communication especially premature and illegal media trial of corruption cases always polarized and hardened the mind-sets of different people in accepting or rejecting the eventual indictment or acquittal of any suspect. This was substantially corroborated by majority of the respondents interviewed for this study who agreed that poor communication was largely responsible for the ineffectual fight against corruption in the country. The paper therefore called for a national communication policy along with effective strategies to drive all public policies especially the unending trend of corruption cases in Nigeria. Except this is effectively organized, the fight against corruption in Nigeria may remain a mirage for a long time to come