An ambitious effort is currently in progress to embed restorative justice within Nigeria’s judicial framework, focusing on training magistrates in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to serve as pivotal agents in alleviating congested court schedules and easing the burden on overcrowded correctional facilities.
Dr. Jacob Tsado, the executive director of Prison Fellowship Nigeria (PFN), revealed this initiative during the inauguration of a two-day Restorative Justice Training program for FCT magistrates. This event was organized through a partnership between the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme and PFN.
According to Tsado, the judiciary’s proactive engagement is essential for the effective implementation of restorative justice.
“The judiciary’s involvement is indispensable for restorative justice to thrive,” he emphasized. “Since magistrates handle a significant portion of cases suitable for this approach, they are instrumental in embedding restorative justice practices within the FCT.”
The training aims to encourage magistrates to embrace the restorative justice framework by directing appropriate cases to specialized centres for swift and amicable resolution, ultimately reducing the backlog in courts and the population in correctional institutions.
Initially, the program targets 30 magistrates, with plans to extend training to all magistrates across the FCT. Tsado highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader national rollout.
“Restorative justice projects are underway across all geopolitical zones in Nigeria, with Lagos, Plateau, Kano, Adamawa, Abia, Anambra, and Edo serving as pilot states,” he noted. “While Lagos has already established functional restorative justice centres, other states are actively developing frameworks and engaging stakeholders to set up similar centres.”
Mrs. Mariam Kombo Ezeh, head of the FCT Restorative Justice Centre, reinforced the critical role magistrates play in this process.
She explained that the centre operates under the supervision of the FCT Chief Judge and depends heavily on case referrals from magistrates.
“Magistrates’ cooperation is vital in referring offenders and victims who consent to participate. When an offender admits guilt and expresses remorse, they are referred to the restorative justice centre, where we facilitate dialogue among the offender, victim, and community to agree on suitable reparations,” Ezeh stated.
Once a consensus is reached, the case is returned to the court to be formalized as a judgment, which helps prevent incarceration of young, first-time offenders.
Ezeh also shared plans to expand training to other key players such as police officers, the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and community leaders to increase the pool of referrals.
When asked about extending restorative justice to individuals already convicted, she mentioned the possibility of integrating parole mechanisms.
“Inmates demonstrating good behavior and genuine remorse may have their cases reviewed by magistrates or high courts, potentially leading to sentence reductions in favor of community service,” she explained.
Nonetheless, the immediate focus remains on the substantial number of awaiting-trial detainees.
“Correctional centres house more individuals awaiting trial than those convicted. These detainees are our primary focus because, through restorative justice referrals, many could avoid imprisonment altogether,” Ezeh concluded.
