PUNISHABLE OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENT FOR BREAKING THE LAW

People commit lots of offenses in their activities or relationships with others that are punishable by law. There are various types and degrees of offenses commensurate with their punishment.

  There are two classes of offences.

1. Criminal offenses
2. Civic offencesCRIMINAL OFFENCES: There are severe offences with severe penalties. Though citizens must be tried in a court of law and found guilty of such offences before punishment is meted out concerning the provision of law. Criminal offences include crimes like bribery, drug trafficking, corruption, and human trafficking. Criminal offences may attract jail terms and death penalties.            CIVIC OFFENCES: They are less critical offences yet they attract penalties. They include libel prostitution, slander, sanitation offences, and so on. 

They are punishable by impressing fire and detention sentences.

The state and the rule of law: In this context, ‘state’ means the nation or country.

Institutions or arms of government that help in formulating and enforcement of the rule of law include the legislature, executive, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies such as the police, EFCC, ICFC, and so on.

1. THE LEGISLATURE: This aim of government makes for a country.

           Legislature and the rule of law In formulating and enforcing the rule of law the legislature.

     2.Makes necessary laws that help in protecting the rule of law

     3.Make amendments to the constitution when necessary 

     4. Helps in establishing law enforcement agencies like NAFDAC, EFCC, NHRC, INEC, etc. 

    5. Has the power to impeach the president in case he abuses power

    6.Has the power to investigate financial activities of any government departments.

PUNISHABLE OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENT OF LAWS (CONTINUES)

2. THE EXECUTIVE: The aim of the government implement and enforce the law and other government politics.

THE ROLE IN ENFORCING AND FORMULATING THE LAW

1. It protects lives and properties through law enforcement agents like the police, NAFDAC, etc.
2. It helps in implanting all laws made by the legislature

iii. The president with his cabinet must defend the constitution 

1. It advises the legislature when there is a need to amend the constitution (electrical laws in Nigeria were amended before the April 2012 general election)
2. Imposes curfew whenever there is chaos and commotion in the country. 
3. THE JUDICIARY: The judiciary interprets the law

THE ROLE OF THE JUDICIARY INCLUDES

1. It helps in interpreting the law
2. It fights against any constitutional abuse or violation by other arms of government, individuals, or organizations.

      3. It punishes violations of the law

      4.It determines the quality and punishes them accordingly

       5.It has the power to release anyone unjustly detained

   4.THE POLICE: The police have the right to enforce the laws preserve peace, reduce fear, and provide for a safe environment partnership with the communities to enforce quality of life is also part of their responsibilities.

      ROLES OF POLICE

1. Protect lives and properties
2. Protects and arrest suspects

       3. Maintain law and order in the society

     4.Settle minor disputes that may culminate into the breakdown of law and order

      5.Fights crime by preventing it and by a rigorous pursuit of violates of law

     6.Investigate criminal cases and present suspects in court.

    5.THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC): This was set up in 2002. It focuses on combining financial and economic crimes. The commission is empowered to prevent, investigate, and penalize economic and financial crimes. It also enforces other laws and regulations related to economic or financial environments such as embezzlement of public funds, fraud, etc.

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6. THE INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES COMMUNICATION (ICPC): This communication was established in September, 29th 2000 to complain, investigate and persecute corrupt people. It is also to enlighten the public about the fight against bribery, corruption, and related offences. The major role of the commission is to make Nigeria socially free from corruption in the form of misappropriation of funds and illegal punishment.

7. THE NATIONAL AGENCIES FOR FOOD AND DRUGS ADMISSION AND CONTROL (NAFDAC)

NAFDAC was established by decree in 1993 but officially established a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Health on January 1st, 1994 to regulate and control the quality of foods, drugs, cosmetics, median services, chemical detergent, and packaged water imported and locally made distributed in Nigeria.

FUNCTIONS OF NAFDAC

1. Regulatory Functions: it controls importation exportation, manufacture, advertisement, distribution, and sales of drugs, cosmetics, etc.
2. Inspection Functions: It inspects imported goods, drugs, cosmetics, etc. by establishing the quality and certifying the production site of production.
3. Registration Functions: It registers food, drugs, bottled water, and chemicals.
4. Investigation Functions: Investigate production premises and raw materials for food and drugs. 8. THE NATIONAL DRUG AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (NDLEA)

It was established by decree 48 of 2000. It was the sole agency for drug enforcement in Nigeria.

FUNCTIONS OF NDLEA

1. The coordination of all drug laws and enforcement functions conferred on any person and authority.
2. Adoption of measures to eradicate illegal cultivation of narcotic plants and eliminate illicit demand for them and psychotropic substances
3. Maintenance of investigation and control techniques 
4. Improving eradication efforts
5. Improving enforcement of laws against illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. 
6. Elements and preventing major causes of the problems of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.