I am an international development professional with more than ten years experience in legal practice, public policy analysis, and security sector governance. I am interested in policy-centered interventions focusing on effective, efficient and accountable service delivery by Nigeria’s security and justice agencies. Supervisors: Intervention Manager and Advisor
In terms of its disruptive impact and intensity of violence, banditry is the gravest security thr... more In terms of its disruptive impact and intensity of violence, banditry is the gravest security threat that Nigeria currently faces, and it is driving her worst national humanitarian crisis in decades. There are contests about the origin, nature and the drivers of banditry and how well bandits by their modus operandi fit into the various definitional frameworks of an organized criminal group. The article examines what is known about bandits and banditry in light of existing definitional and conceptual paradigms of organized crime and criminal groups, and interrogates the applicability of international humanitarian law to this security crisis that characterizes the current face of conflict in the West African Sahel.
The Nigeria Police Force bears the constitutional mandate as the primary policing agency for the ... more The Nigeria Police Force bears the constitutional mandate as the primary policing agency for the protection of life and property within Nigeria; however, the police have an historical illreputation for corruption, ineptitude and impunity. Using the institutional theory of police as the framework of analysis, the paper argues that the performance of the police in Nigeria mirrors the dominant political, social and economic institutions and the structural environment of the Nigerian state. The article puts in perspective the deliberate political decision to underfund the police, leaving officers of the force the extra task of foraging for funds to undertake the duty that the Nigeria state primarily exists for; the article further explores the nexus between corruption in the police in Nigeria and the issue of funding. The article finds that the Nigerian state, by deliberately under-funding the police, while expecting the agency to perform its duties, has indirectly sanctioned the corrup...
This reflection from the field argues that African bar associations have the potential to play a ... more This reflection from the field argues that African bar associations have the potential to play a significant part in the fight against impunity in African countries, given their legal expertise and high standing in society, and calls on them to use these assets for this purpose. After providing a brief overview of the history of civil society efforts to promote human rights and the rule of law on the African Continent, the author considers the strength of bar associations and law societies in strengthening the rule of law promoting accountability on the Continent. The author assesses the prospect of using bar associations and law societies to popularise and promote international criminal justice in Africa.
To be certain, the ills afflicting the Nigerian criminal justice system predate the government of... more To be certain, the ills afflicting the Nigerian criminal justice system predate the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. However, the current administration has brought to the forefront the flaws and defects of the Nigerian criminal justice system. For one, the scourge of pending trials has worsened, with the percentage of prison inmates awaiting trial rising to eighty per cent. Moreover, in the 2016 budget, the government underfunded the police and the sum allocated for the maintenance of police operational assets in the year only lasted for three months. In addition, the judiciary got the lowest budgetary allocation in five years, while prison breaks and escapes increased in number and regions. Successive reports catalogued instances of extrajudicial killing and human rights abuses committed by security services and the institutional integrity and independence of the judiciary was assailed like never before. Bureaucratic bottlenecks, inter-agency rivalry and policy inconsistencies lessened the effectiveness of government's intervention and mob justice became a regular social feature, highlighting loss of confidence in the Nigerian criminal justice system. The criminal justice system in a democratic government is pivotal to good governance because of the centrality of the criminal justice system to order, stability and conflict resolution. Globally, the criminal justice framework is built on five components and these are: the law enforcement component; the court system; the prosecution; the corrections system; and the community. Governance determines how the criminal justice system as an institution of social control in a country is defined and utilized. Furthermore, how well a country manages its criminal justice system affects its overall performance on governance indices. An effective criminal justice system is, therefore, one of the key pillars upon which the concept of the rule of law is built because it serves as a functional mechanism to redress grievances and bring violators of social norms to justice. THE GOVERNMENT OF CHANGE In the two years of the Buhari administration, the government of " change " has struggled to articulate a coherent policy framework that lucidly defines the roles and relationships
Informal institutions have profound effect on policy outcomes. Findings show that the tendency to... more Informal institutions have profound effect on policy outcomes. Findings show that the tendency to focus on formal rules and institutions is insufficient for understanding the real incentives and constraints that underpin social and economic decisions. Understanding informal institutions becomes more compelling in case of Nigeria, where the informal sector accounts for as much as 57.9% of the GDP. This paper investigates sources of conflict in wet markets and how wet markets as a critical component of the informal sector in Nigeria utilize informal structures, mechanisms and processes for internal governance, especially conflict resolution outside the formal courtroom and legal channels. These institutions and their codes are based on mostly unwritten codes of conduct whose enforcement relies heavily on fiduciary relationships, networks, enlightened self-interest and other mutual reinforcing mechanisms of responsibility. The paper finds that there are established systems of rules and decision making processes inwet markets that have evolved from traditional socio-cultural codes and practices and these indigenous governance structures have great impact on enterprise and entrepreneurship in wet markets in Nigeria.
Informal institutions have profound effect on policy outcomes. Findings show that the
tendency to... more Informal institutions have profound effect on policy outcomes. Findings show that the tendency to focus on formal rules and institutions is insufficient for understanding the real incentives and constraints that underpin social and economic decisions. Understanding informal institutions becomes more compelling in case of Nigeria, where the informal sector accounts for as much as 57.9% of the GDP. This paper investigates sources of conflict in wet markets and how wet markets as a critical component of the informal sector in Nigeria utilize informal structures, mechanisms and processes for internal governance, especially conflict resolution outside the formal courtroom and legal channels. These institutions and their codes are based on mostly unwritten codes of conduct whose enforcement relies heavily on fiduciary relationships, networks, enlightened self-interest and other mutual reinforcing mechanisms of responsibility. The paper finds that there are established systems of rules and decision making processes in wet markets that have evolved from traditional socio-cultural codes and practices and these indigenous governance structures have great impact on enterprise and entrepreneurship in wet markets in Nigeria.
Bar associations and law societies are a critical component of legal institutions and processes o... more Bar associations and law societies are a critical component of legal institutions and processes on the African continent, and are referred to as the most influential professional guild in the promotion of the rule of law and accountability on the continent. While the membership structure and size of these groups differ, they all are composed of legal professionals, share identical objectives and are represented in almost all communities in Africa.
This paper examines the performance of Nigeria's criminal justice system, using quantitative and ... more This paper examines the performance of Nigeria's criminal justice system, using quantitative and qualitative indicators. An effective criminal justice system is one of the key pillars upon which the concept of the rule of law is built because it serves as a functional mechanism to redress grievances and bring violators of social norms to justice, and how well a country manages its criminal justice system affects its overall performance on the governance index. Unfortunately, the Nigerian criminal justice system is fundamentally flawed and the defects manifest at every processing point on the entire criminal justice system line. This paper finds that the failure of governance institutions to design a suitable criminal justice policy, the inability of the legislature to appropriately transform policies into laws, an oddly designed judicial system, an outdated and counterproductive style of policing and a correctional services that inhumanely warehouses those considered 'innocent' by the very law of the society that imprisons them are the factors that have collectively rendered the system out of sync with contemporary global best practices in criminal justice system administration.
This report details the findings of a baseline study on the relationship between border communiti... more This report details the findings of a baseline study on the relationship between border communities and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ilella and Gada in Sokoto State and Dandi in Kebbi State. The study was commissioned by Police Program Africa, Nigeria (PPA-Nigeria) and funded by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The study seeks to provide deep insight into the nature of relationships among critical stakeholders- Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Immigration Services, local policing/security platforms, traditional rulers, religious institutions and other composite parts of the communities in the selected LGAs. The outcome of this baseline study would help in guiding the proposed GIZ-PPA Nigeria community consultations in the identified communities on enhancing human rights and fostering democratic and efficient working relationship among stakeholders.
In terms of its disruptive impact and intensity of violence, banditry is the gravest security thr... more In terms of its disruptive impact and intensity of violence, banditry is the gravest security threat that Nigeria currently faces, and it is driving her worst national humanitarian crisis in decades. There are contests about the origin, nature and the drivers of banditry and how well bandits by their modus operandi fit into the various definitional frameworks of an organized criminal group. The article examines what is known about bandits and banditry in light of existing definitional and conceptual paradigms of organized crime and criminal groups, and interrogates the applicability of international humanitarian law to this security crisis that characterizes the current face of conflict in the West African Sahel.
The Nigeria Police Force bears the constitutional mandate as the primary policing agency for the ... more The Nigeria Police Force bears the constitutional mandate as the primary policing agency for the protection of life and property within Nigeria; however, the police have an historical illreputation for corruption, ineptitude and impunity. Using the institutional theory of police as the framework of analysis, the paper argues that the performance of the police in Nigeria mirrors the dominant political, social and economic institutions and the structural environment of the Nigerian state. The article puts in perspective the deliberate political decision to underfund the police, leaving officers of the force the extra task of foraging for funds to undertake the duty that the Nigeria state primarily exists for; the article further explores the nexus between corruption in the police in Nigeria and the issue of funding. The article finds that the Nigerian state, by deliberately under-funding the police, while expecting the agency to perform its duties, has indirectly sanctioned the corrup...
This reflection from the field argues that African bar associations have the potential to play a ... more This reflection from the field argues that African bar associations have the potential to play a significant part in the fight against impunity in African countries, given their legal expertise and high standing in society, and calls on them to use these assets for this purpose. After providing a brief overview of the history of civil society efforts to promote human rights and the rule of law on the African Continent, the author considers the strength of bar associations and law societies in strengthening the rule of law promoting accountability on the Continent. The author assesses the prospect of using bar associations and law societies to popularise and promote international criminal justice in Africa.
To be certain, the ills afflicting the Nigerian criminal justice system predate the government of... more To be certain, the ills afflicting the Nigerian criminal justice system predate the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. However, the current administration has brought to the forefront the flaws and defects of the Nigerian criminal justice system. For one, the scourge of pending trials has worsened, with the percentage of prison inmates awaiting trial rising to eighty per cent. Moreover, in the 2016 budget, the government underfunded the police and the sum allocated for the maintenance of police operational assets in the year only lasted for three months. In addition, the judiciary got the lowest budgetary allocation in five years, while prison breaks and escapes increased in number and regions. Successive reports catalogued instances of extrajudicial killing and human rights abuses committed by security services and the institutional integrity and independence of the judiciary was assailed like never before. Bureaucratic bottlenecks, inter-agency rivalry and policy inconsistencies lessened the effectiveness of government's intervention and mob justice became a regular social feature, highlighting loss of confidence in the Nigerian criminal justice system. The criminal justice system in a democratic government is pivotal to good governance because of the centrality of the criminal justice system to order, stability and conflict resolution. Globally, the criminal justice framework is built on five components and these are: the law enforcement component; the court system; the prosecution; the corrections system; and the community. Governance determines how the criminal justice system as an institution of social control in a country is defined and utilized. Furthermore, how well a country manages its criminal justice system affects its overall performance on governance indices. An effective criminal justice system is, therefore, one of the key pillars upon which the concept of the rule of law is built because it serves as a functional mechanism to redress grievances and bring violators of social norms to justice. THE GOVERNMENT OF CHANGE In the two years of the Buhari administration, the government of " change " has struggled to articulate a coherent policy framework that lucidly defines the roles and relationships
Informal institutions have profound effect on policy outcomes. Findings show that the tendency to... more Informal institutions have profound effect on policy outcomes. Findings show that the tendency to focus on formal rules and institutions is insufficient for understanding the real incentives and constraints that underpin social and economic decisions. Understanding informal institutions becomes more compelling in case of Nigeria, where the informal sector accounts for as much as 57.9% of the GDP. This paper investigates sources of conflict in wet markets and how wet markets as a critical component of the informal sector in Nigeria utilize informal structures, mechanisms and processes for internal governance, especially conflict resolution outside the formal courtroom and legal channels. These institutions and their codes are based on mostly unwritten codes of conduct whose enforcement relies heavily on fiduciary relationships, networks, enlightened self-interest and other mutual reinforcing mechanisms of responsibility. The paper finds that there are established systems of rules and decision making processes inwet markets that have evolved from traditional socio-cultural codes and practices and these indigenous governance structures have great impact on enterprise and entrepreneurship in wet markets in Nigeria.
Informal institutions have profound effect on policy outcomes. Findings show that the
tendency to... more Informal institutions have profound effect on policy outcomes. Findings show that the tendency to focus on formal rules and institutions is insufficient for understanding the real incentives and constraints that underpin social and economic decisions. Understanding informal institutions becomes more compelling in case of Nigeria, where the informal sector accounts for as much as 57.9% of the GDP. This paper investigates sources of conflict in wet markets and how wet markets as a critical component of the informal sector in Nigeria utilize informal structures, mechanisms and processes for internal governance, especially conflict resolution outside the formal courtroom and legal channels. These institutions and their codes are based on mostly unwritten codes of conduct whose enforcement relies heavily on fiduciary relationships, networks, enlightened self-interest and other mutual reinforcing mechanisms of responsibility. The paper finds that there are established systems of rules and decision making processes in wet markets that have evolved from traditional socio-cultural codes and practices and these indigenous governance structures have great impact on enterprise and entrepreneurship in wet markets in Nigeria.
Bar associations and law societies are a critical component of legal institutions and processes o... more Bar associations and law societies are a critical component of legal institutions and processes on the African continent, and are referred to as the most influential professional guild in the promotion of the rule of law and accountability on the continent. While the membership structure and size of these groups differ, they all are composed of legal professionals, share identical objectives and are represented in almost all communities in Africa.
This paper examines the performance of Nigeria's criminal justice system, using quantitative and ... more This paper examines the performance of Nigeria's criminal justice system, using quantitative and qualitative indicators. An effective criminal justice system is one of the key pillars upon which the concept of the rule of law is built because it serves as a functional mechanism to redress grievances and bring violators of social norms to justice, and how well a country manages its criminal justice system affects its overall performance on the governance index. Unfortunately, the Nigerian criminal justice system is fundamentally flawed and the defects manifest at every processing point on the entire criminal justice system line. This paper finds that the failure of governance institutions to design a suitable criminal justice policy, the inability of the legislature to appropriately transform policies into laws, an oddly designed judicial system, an outdated and counterproductive style of policing and a correctional services that inhumanely warehouses those considered 'innocent' by the very law of the society that imprisons them are the factors that have collectively rendered the system out of sync with contemporary global best practices in criminal justice system administration.
This report details the findings of a baseline study on the relationship between border communiti... more This report details the findings of a baseline study on the relationship between border communities and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ilella and Gada in Sokoto State and Dandi in Kebbi State. The study was commissioned by Police Program Africa, Nigeria (PPA-Nigeria) and funded by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The study seeks to provide deep insight into the nature of relationships among critical stakeholders- Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Immigration Services, local policing/security platforms, traditional rulers, religious institutions and other composite parts of the communities in the selected LGAs. The outcome of this baseline study would help in guiding the proposed GIZ-PPA Nigeria community consultations in the identified communities on enhancing human rights and fostering democratic and efficient working relationship among stakeholders.
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Papers by Tosin Osasona
This paper investigates sources of conflict in wet markets and how wet markets as a critical component of the informal sector in Nigeria utilize informal structures, mechanisms and processes for internal governance, especially conflict resolution outside the formal courtroom and legal channels. These institutions and their codes are based on mostly unwritten codes of conduct whose enforcement relies heavily on fiduciary relationships, networks, enlightened self-interest and other mutual reinforcing mechanisms of responsibility.
The paper finds that there are established systems of rules and decision making processes inwet markets that have evolved from traditional socio-cultural codes and practices and these indigenous governance structures have great impact on enterprise and entrepreneurship in wet markets in Nigeria.
tendency to focus on formal rules and institutions is insufficient for understanding the real
incentives and constraints that underpin social and economic decisions. Understanding
informal institutions becomes more compelling in case of Nigeria, where the informal sector
accounts for as much as 57.9% of the GDP.
This paper investigates sources of conflict in wet markets and how wet markets as a critical
component of the informal sector in Nigeria utilize informal structures, mechanisms and
processes for internal governance, especially conflict resolution outside the formal
courtroom and legal channels. These institutions and their codes are based on mostly
unwritten codes of conduct whose enforcement relies heavily on fiduciary relationships,
networks, enlightened self-interest and other mutual reinforcing mechanisms of
responsibility.
The paper finds that there are established systems of rules and decision making processes in
wet markets that have evolved from traditional socio-cultural codes and practices and these
indigenous governance structures have great impact on enterprise and entrepreneurship in
wet markets in Nigeria.
Drafts by Tosin Osasona
This paper investigates sources of conflict in wet markets and how wet markets as a critical component of the informal sector in Nigeria utilize informal structures, mechanisms and processes for internal governance, especially conflict resolution outside the formal courtroom and legal channels. These institutions and their codes are based on mostly unwritten codes of conduct whose enforcement relies heavily on fiduciary relationships, networks, enlightened self-interest and other mutual reinforcing mechanisms of responsibility.
The paper finds that there are established systems of rules and decision making processes inwet markets that have evolved from traditional socio-cultural codes and practices and these indigenous governance structures have great impact on enterprise and entrepreneurship in wet markets in Nigeria.
tendency to focus on formal rules and institutions is insufficient for understanding the real
incentives and constraints that underpin social and economic decisions. Understanding
informal institutions becomes more compelling in case of Nigeria, where the informal sector
accounts for as much as 57.9% of the GDP.
This paper investigates sources of conflict in wet markets and how wet markets as a critical
component of the informal sector in Nigeria utilize informal structures, mechanisms and
processes for internal governance, especially conflict resolution outside the formal
courtroom and legal channels. These institutions and their codes are based on mostly
unwritten codes of conduct whose enforcement relies heavily on fiduciary relationships,
networks, enlightened self-interest and other mutual reinforcing mechanisms of
responsibility.
The paper finds that there are established systems of rules and decision making processes in
wet markets that have evolved from traditional socio-cultural codes and practices and these
indigenous governance structures have great impact on enterprise and entrepreneurship in
wet markets in Nigeria.