FORENSIC SPEAKER IDENTIFICATION IN NIGERIA: PROSPECTS, CHALLENGES, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Abstract

Forensic speaker identification has emerged as a crucial component of forensic phonetics, providing scientific methods for identifying individuals through voice evidence in criminal investigations. In contemporary criminal investigations, voice recordings obtained through telephone conversations, surveillance devices, and digital communication platforms have become increasingly common forms of evidence. In many jurisdictions around the world, forensic phonetic analysis is used to authenticate recordings, identify speakers, and evaluate the evidential value of speech data in legal proceedings. In Nigeria, particularly in the South-Eastern region, the application of forensic phonetics remains relatively underdeveloped despite its potential to enhance criminal investigations and judicial processes. This paper examines the concept of forensic speaker identification, its theoretical foundations, and its relevance within the Nigerian criminal justice system. Drawing on existing literature and empirical observations from studies on forensic phonetics in Nigeria, the paper explores the role of acoustic and auditory analysis in identifying speakers and evaluating voice recordings used as legal evidence. The findings reveal that although awareness of forensic phonetics is gradually increasing among stakeholders, its practical application remains limited due to infrastructural deficiencies, lack of trained experts, limited institutional support, and legal uncertainties surrounding the admissibility of voice evidence. The paper concludes that the integration of forensic speaker identification into Nigeria’s investigative and judicial processes could significantly improve the reliability of voice-based evidence, strengthen investigative accuracy, and reduce wrongful convictions.