Mob justice is not unique to Lagos and Nigeria; however the failure of Nigerian criminal justice institutions and agencies to prevent or punish those who engage in it, has lent an air of acceptability to the practice. The success of a legal policy rests squarely on a number of extra-legal factors, least of which is public perception and a cluster of cultural values, hence, this study investigates public perception in Lagos to mob justice, using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The study finds that sight and scenes of mob justice is a regular fixture of public life in the city and that there is low confidence in the criminal justice system. The study concludes that mob justice in Lagos is one of the manifestations of public discontent with the failures of the criminal justice system and highlights the social and cultural disconnection between citizens and the current criminal justice regime.

Keywords: Mob justice; public perception; criminal justice system; Lagos