Forensic Investigation Management in Human Rights Violation Cases in Nigeria: Lessons from the Judiciary

The forensic investigation of human rights violations requires management frameworks that preserve evidentiary integrity while navigating institutional power dynamics and protecting the safety of investigators and witnesses. This study examines the management of forensic investigations in human rights violation cases that proceeded through Nigerian courts and quasi-judicial tribunals between 2018 and 2024. A professional practice case study design was employed, reviewing twenty documented human rights violation cases involving forensic evidence from the Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, and Kaduna jurisdictions, conducting interviews with twenty-two forensic investigators, human rights lawyers, and judicial officers, and assessing the quality of forensic management decisions in each case. The study evaluates evidence preservation strategies, independence maintenance, investigator safety protocols, and the impact of forensic quality on accountability outcomes. Findings reveal that forensic investigation quality was a significant predictor of accountability outcomes: cases with independent forensic investigations were three times more likely to result in judicial findings of rights violations. Independence was compromised in forty percent of cases by the institutional affiliation of investigators with security agencies implicated in the alleged violations. Recommendations include the development of a National Human Rights Forensic Investigation Protocol incorporating mandatory independence requirements, the designation of certified independent forensic investigators for human rights cases, and enhanced judicial guidance on evaluating forensic evidence in human rights proceedings. Keywords: human rights, forensic investigation management, accountability, Nigeria, independence.