Journals

The Coroner's Place builds and promotes public awareness of coroner laws and procedures; it advocates the revitalization of coroner procedures as a way of discerning the truth about deaths brought about in 'suspect' circumstances. Published by Access to Justice, The Coroner's Place forms part of a wider project that confronts extrajudicial executions by law enforcement officials, and militia and vigilante groups. By inquiring into the circumstances in which people in detention (or in other interactive situations with law enforcement agencies) die, and identifying those responsible for their deaths, Coroners promote accountability and confront impunity and violence in the delivery of policing services in the Nigerian society in a systematic way. Impunity and the concealment of truthful information about killings have, for a long period, fostered the ease with which perpetrators of extralegal executions have evaded justice and legal responsibility for their actions in Nigeria.

DEDICATION

To the many wasted lives: those killed at "checkpoints" over illicit demands, and those denied the chance to answer complaints before they are silenced... eternally. If this project helps to strengthen the safeguards against deaths that follow this capricious path, it would be to the memory of these foregone ones.

Acknowledgment

Access to Justice is grateful to the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for its support towards this Project and, as well, to its Nigeria Programme Officer, Prof. Okey Ibeanu. We extend our appreciation as well to the chief judges, attorneys-general, judges, magistrates, men and women who have helped with the work we are doing on this project in their various capacities.