NAN-H-120
Justice
By Sumaila Ogbaje/Victor Michael
Abuja, Nov. 8 2016(NAN) Mr Benson Iwuagwu, the Executive Director, Prisons Fellowship
of Nigeria, has called for the introduction of restorative justice system to encourage reconciliation and harmony in the society.
He made the call at the National Prison Ministry Conference and Investiture of Patrons of Prison Fellowship of Nigeria with the theme “Rebuilding Lives and Repairing the Harms of Crime” on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said restorative justice system would help to deal with issues of restiveness in the society,
as well as promote communal harmony and prevent victim losses.
Iwuagwu disclosed that the fellowship had been partnering with the Lagos State Government to
carry out pilot projects on restorative justice as pre-trial diversion.
He explained that the objective was to ensure that a significant number of minor offences and misdemeanour were diverted from usual criminal trial that usually took time and led to prison
remand.
According to him, change comes from the inside because when people reconcile themselves with
God, they will have better platform to behave and to conduct themselves in a pro-social way.
“That way, prisons will begin to be decongested ; there will be better sense of judgment and
victims will have a say in how their matters are resolved.
“Our Sycamore Tree Project helps people to see how the other person feels, and then to build a platform because prison ministry is not what one organisation or Church can do.
“So, when we synergise, we can make better impact on penal and criminal justice system.”
Iwuagwu added that the essence of the conference was to bring to the fore the changing nature of prison ministry which encompassed the spiritual, social and economic, as well as societal aspects.
Mrs Dorcas Din, the Chairperson of the Fellowship, said it was aimed at filling vital gaps in the welfare and rehabilitation of prison inmates in the country.
Din said members of the Fellowship made sacrifices because they were passionate about sharing the transforming love of God with prisoners.
She added that the peace and security of prisons should be priorities of every society, especially as Nigeria grappled with security challenges that had ruffled community harmony and distorted national development.
“In this respect, prison fellowship is ready to partner with government to foster systems which are both restorative, transformational which will reduce crime and produce safer communities.
“Through our flagship programme called the Onisimus Project, we were able to prepare and empower ex-convicts back to the society.” (NAN)
VIC/OYS/DO
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Edited by David Onilede/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu