The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and his counterpart in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf have urged support for restorative justice principles in the country.
They said the effective integration of the principles of restorative justice into the existing justice administration system will effectively eliminate the inherent challenges in the county’s criminal justice system.
Fagbemi, Egbetokun, Tsoho, and Yusuf spoke in Abuja on Thursday at a “Wider stakeholders review and validation session of the restorative justice documents – The Bill, The Policy, The Practice Direction and Training Manual,” organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice, with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Fagbemi, represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF) and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba stressed the need for all relevant stakeholders within the nation’s justice administration sector to suppress efforts to promote restorative justice in the country.
He said: “I wish to state that the need to support government policies towards reforming the criminal justice system, particularly through developing restorative justice mechanisms cannot be overemphasized.
“As you are aware, the criminal justice system faces tremendous challenges, ranging from recidivism, the prolonged duration for trials, overcrowded custodial centres, and the failure of punishment for offences to meet with standards of justice for the victims and survivors of crime.
“These challenges are addressed through restorative justice mechanisms, with the overall objective of improving the criminal justice system.”
The AGF explained that the event provided the opportunity to review, develop, enhance, and collectively adopt the proposed legal and regulatory frameworks in support of restorative justice, including the Policy, Draft Bill, Practice Direction, and Training Manual.
He added: “These documents are the foundation upon which we aim to build a system that not only punishes wrongdoing but also promotes healing for victims.
“Restorative justice is an evolving approach to justice that seeks to repair harm by providing an opportunity for those harmed and the perpetrators to communicate and address needs in the aftermath of a crime.
“Restorative Justice gives offenders an opportunity to make amends and to try to correct some of their wrongs and hurt which they may have caused to their victims. It is an innovative approach that has been known to reduce re-offending rates by making the offenders face the consequences of their actions.
“For the victims, the goal of restorative justice is to give them an active role in the criminal justice process and to reduce feelings of anxiety and powerlessness. While the traditional criminal justice process solely focuses on punishment for the offender, restorative justice focuses on victims and survivors who have been harmed by the conduct of the offender.
“Victims are empowered to participate more fully than in the traditional system, and the community also has an important role to play by establishing standards of conduct and helping to provide support to the parties involved,” Fagbemi said.
Egbetokun said he is “proud of the champion the adoption of restorative justice principles in our criminal justice system.
“I am eager to work with all the stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the restorative principles that will foster a more compassionate and more inclusive justice system for all.
The IGP noted that before the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in May 2015 there were no explicit provisions for restorative principles in the nation’s criminal justice system.
Citing several provisions of the ACJA, the IGP noted that the law now contains various restorative alternatives, making the statutory provisions.
He said the adoption of restorative principles represents a significant shift in the nation’s approach to justice, prioritizing healing and reintegration over punishment
Egbetokun added: “This approach recognizes the worth and dignity of every individual, victims, offenders and the community.”
The IGG said restorative justice offers a unique opportunity to foster a more compassionate and inclusive justice system, address the root causes of conflicts and crimes, promote accountability and responsibility, support victims’ recovery and empowerment, and build safer and more harmonious communities.
Justice Tsoho, who was represented by the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Hassan Sulaiman, said the concept of restorative justice holds immense potential for the nation’s legal framework.
He added: “It offers a path towards a more holistic approach to justice, one that prioritizes healing, reconciliation, and reintegration of offenders into the society.
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He said the event demonstrates a commitment to collaboration and a collective effort to ensure the effective implementation of the restorative justice principles within the existing system of justice administration.
Justice Yusuf, who was represented by a judge of the High Court of the FCT, Justice Eleojo Eneche, said the development marks a major step in the country’s journey towards a more just, humane, and effective criminal justice system.
He argued that restorative justice is not just a concept, but a transformative approach that emphasises healing the harm caused by criminal behaviour, rehabilitating offenders, and restoring victims and communities,
The Chi f Judge of the High Court of the FCT noted that the paradigm shift from retributive Justice to restorative justice is essential and inspiring as it ensures that Justice is fair, compassionate, and inclusive.
