Translation and Interpreting Services in Nigerian Courts: Evaluating Professional Standards in Oyo State

This study evaluates the professional standards of translation and interpreting services provided in the courts of Oyo State, South West Nigeria, focusing on the linguistic accuracy, ethical compliance, and institutional management of court interpreting. The right to a fair trial depends in part on access to competent linguistic assistance, yet court interpreting in Nigeria operates largely without formal professional standards or independent quality oversight. The study adopts a mixed-methods design combining a structured questionnaire administered to 25 court interpreters with courtroom observation of 20 sessions and documentary analysis of court records. The theoretical framework draws on the Integrated Model of Interpreting Quality and professional ethics frameworks in translating and interpreting. Findings reveal that the majority of court interpreters in Oyo State are informally appointed without formal training in legal translation, interpreting protocols, or professional ethics. Significant accuracy gaps are documented, particularly in the rendering of technical legal terminology and witness testimony nuance. The study also identifies systemic under-resourcing of interpretation services at the High Court level and near-total absence of interpreting provision in magistrates' courts in rural Oyo. The research recommends the establishment of a national certification framework for court interpreters in Nigeria and mandatory continuing professional education for practising court interpreters. Keywords: court interpreting, translation, Oyo State, professional standards, legal linguistics.