Lawyer advocates referral of awaiting trial inmates to restorative centres

From Nurudeen Oyewole & Alumo Joy Lember, Lagos A Lagos-based lawyer and project coordinator, Lagos State Restorative Justice, Benson Iwuagwu, has called for the establishment of a unit within the prison commands that will be facilitating the referral of awaiting trial inmates to restorative justice centre so as to address the perennial cases of congestion.‎ […]

From Nurudeen Oyewole & Alumo Joy Lember, Lagos

A Lagos-based lawyer and project coordinator, Lagos State Restorative Justice, Benson Iwuagwu, has called for the establishment of a unit within the prison commands that will be facilitating the referral of awaiting trial inmates to restorative justice centre so as to address the perennial cases of congestion.‎

The lawyer made the call at the technical meeting of the Lagos State Restorative Justice Steering Committee, an initiative of the Prison Fellowship Nigeria in partnership with the Lagos State government and supported by European Union (EU) and Nigeria United Nation’s Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC).‎

Iwuagwu said the criminal justice system in the country is currently struggling with crippling challenges of delay, over-use of custodial measures and consequent overcrowding in prisons.

In a communique issued at the end of the technical session, the lawyer reiterated the need to have the restorative justice centres in place and lamented that “over 70 percent of the country’s prisons are currently populated by those awaiting trial who keep adding to the congestion of the prisons.”

According to Iwuagwu, ‎the current challenges of delay and congestion are directly linked to the fact that the Nigeria Criminal Justice System has remained largely retributive, despite the transformative provisions in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (2015) among others, all of which provide for restorative justice pathways.

He further explained that justice could be applied at every stage of the criminal justice process, from pre-charge to post conviction, because it saw to the capacity to transform the criminal justice system. 

“This is because restorative justice gives the victim and community, voice, in the Criminal Justice System, whilst enabling the offenders to face the consequences of their actions and inspire rehabilitation and reconciliation, “Iwuagwu said in the communique.

‎The lawyer, however, commended the Lagos State government, the Prison Fellowship, Nigeria, the European Union and UNODC for their support to restorative justice initiative.‎

The coordinator, UNODC Support for Justice Sector Reform Programme, Nigeria, Dr. Uju Agomo, in her address said restorative justice is embedded in the African traditional system that is rooted in communalism, hence, it could be easily adapted to Lagos State and the country’s criminal justice system.

Agomo added that there was urgent need to strengthen the legislative and administrative footing for restorative justice through an Executive Bill for the Establishment of the Lagos State Restorative Justice Centre.

She stressed the need to enhance understanding and capacity of all the criminal justice agencies, police, courts and prisons on the role, process and outcome of restorative justice.