AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF GENDER DIFFERENCES IN CRIME AND JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study aims to examine gender differences in crime involvement and justiceadministration within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Using a cross-sectional surveydesign, data were collected from 445 respondents across the Abuja Municipal, Gwagwalada, Bwari,and Kuje Area Councils, with 434 valid responses (97.5% response rate) obtained through a multistagesampling procedure. Quantitative analysis employed descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests,Cramer’s V, mean score comparisons, and Pearson correlation analyses to assess relationshipsamong gender, socio-economic status, and justice outcomes. Results show a significant associationbetween gender and type of crime (χ² = 74.86, p < .001), with males predominating in violent andproperty offences and females in non-violent, survival-driven crimes. Socio-economic statusstrongly correlated with crime involvement (r = 0.69, p < .01), indicating that economic deprivationpredicts higher criminal participation. Institutional bias further influenced justice outcomes, withwomen facing moralized judgments and men harsher sentencing for violent crimes. The studyconcludes that gender, poverty, and institutional practices jointly shape justice disparities in theFCT. It recommends the establishment of gender-sensitive prosecutorial guidelines as a concretepolicy intervention to reduce inequities in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.