Lagos State has inaugurated a restorative justice centre and Secretariat of the Criminal Justice Sector Reform Committee (CJSRC).
The state also trained over 100 facilitators, magistrates, traditional rulers, police officers on restorative justice procedures for successful implementation of the scheme.
The Lagos State restorative justice centre is to serve as an alternative dispute resolution, and a tool to decongest the less serious case in the court system.
This was contained in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Grace Alo.
The Chief Judge, who is also Chairman of CJSRC, Justice Kazeem Alogba, noted that the restorative system of justice has been in existence for over three decades and in practice in other countries, hence its adoption by the state to ensure peaceful resolution of disputes.
Alogba, who was represented by Justice Adenike Coker, said the traditional justice system has suffered a great deal of setbacks with evident increase in the rate of crime, long prosecution process and overcrowding of correctional facilities amongst others.
He noted that the restorative justice centre is a welcome development as settlement centre for restorative justice referrals from courts and office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The Chief Judge also launched the presentation of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document, which seeks to ensure seamless collaboration between investigation prosecutors from the police and the DPPs office. He also inaugurated the Nigerian Police force and DPP focal group to fast track and champion investigation and prosecution.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) noted that the restorative justice system has been a dominant method of dealing with conflict for most of human history, as it existed alongside a diverse range of other practices, including retribution, hence its adoption by the state.
According to him, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that matters are resolved reasonable and timely
“Restorative justice centre is a form of alternative dispute resolution and we are determined to deploy it as a tool for decongesting as many of the less serious cases in the docket of the court system and invariably the overcrowded correctional centres,” he added.
The centre, according to Onigbanjo, is expected to raise awareness and build support for the restorative justice program, as well as to invite participation and collaboration with relevant stakeholders in implementing the model of justice.