THE RIGHTS OF THE NIGERIAN CHILD AND THE ROLE OF COURTS:SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF CHILDREN IN FOCUS

Abstract

Children need support from every sector for their well-being and adequate development. The mental
and physical immaturity of the child requires that all stakeholders in the chain of the development of
the child, as well as the pillars in the justice system, play an active role in the protection of the rights
of the child. The court as a pillar of justice and hope of the common man is very key in the quest for
promotion and protection of the rights of the child. There are categories of children who are very
vulnerable, and the role of the court in ensuring their human rights protection and adequate
development is indispensable. The court is to ensure that it considers the best interest of the child in
issues concerning the child in accordance to international standards. Using doctrinal methodology,
the work discusses the different ways the court can through its judicial duties as provided under the
law ensure adequate protection and development of some categories of children - adopted children
and fostered children. The work found that these categories of child are in some cases subjected to
exploitative labour, human trafficking, sexual abuse and molestation, maltreatment, denial to inherit
property, and inability to live with their parents abroad due to irregularities in processes There are
other cases of illegal adoption and child stealing etc. These situations expose the child to lack of
proper development. The paper calls for active judicial intervention on the cases of these special
categories of children and severe punishment of perpetrators of crimes against these children.