EXPLORING THE FORENSIC GAPS IN FEMICIDE DIGITAL EVIDENCE: A CASE STUDY OF NIGERIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Abstract

The rising incidence of femicide in Nigeria points to a critical failure of both legal response and forensic preparedness. Despite increased awareness and media coverage, justice remains elusive for many victims due to significant gaps in the collection, preservation, and admissibility of digital and forensic evidence. This paper interrogated the structural and institutional barriers that hinder effective prosecution of femicide through a literature-based analysis of Nigeria’s criminal justice system. Situated in a socio-legal framework, the study explored how outdated investigative protocols, lack of digital forensic infrastructure, and insufficient legal clarity around digital evidence compromise the ability to hold perpetrators accountable. The study also draws comparative insights from jurisdictions where forensic and digital tools have been effectively integrated into gender-based violence cases. It argued that the evidentiary deficit is not merely technical, but a deeply systemic one rooted in institutional neglect and a lack of gender-sensitive justice mechanisms. The study found out how that, outdated investigative protocols, lack of digital forensic infrastructure, and insufficient legal clarity around digital evidence compromise the ability to hold perpetrators accountable. The paper concluded that meaningful reform must go beyond legal provisions, requiring investment in forensic capacity, updated legal standards for digital evidence, and interdisciplinary training for law enforcement and judicial officers.