Ethics and Professional Conduct in Forensic Science Practice: A Survey of Nigerian Practitioners

Professional ethics in forensic science governs the conduct of practitioners whose findings directly influence judicial outcomes, making ethical compliance a matter of institutional and societal consequence. This study surveys ethical awareness and conduct among forensic science practitioners across Nigeria's major forensic institutions. A multi-site descriptive survey design was used, administering validated ethics assessment instruments to 120 forensic practitioners drawn from federal and state forensic laboratories, the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force forensic unit, and tertiary hospital pathology departments in six geopolitical zones. The study evaluates adherence to neutrality principles, handling of conflicts of interest, data integrity practices, and attitudes toward reporting professional misconduct. Findings reveal that while most respondents demonstrate strong declarative knowledge of ethical principles, situational assessments reveal significant inconsistencies in applied ethical decision-making. Forty percent of respondents reported awareness of instances in which forensic findings were modified to align with investigative expectations, yet fewer than fifteen percent had reported such incidents through formal channels. Structural barriers to whistleblowing, including fear of institutional retaliation, were identified as primary deterrents. Recommendations include the development of a national forensic science code of ethics under the Nigerian Institute of Forensic Science and the establishment of an independent professional conduct review board. Keywords: forensic ethics, professional conduct, forensic practitioners, Nigeria, whistleblowing.