As part of efforts to advance judicial reform in Kano State, key stakeholders in the Justice Sector convened on Tuesday to begin the validation exercise for the Restorative Justice Documents.
In his remarks at opening ceremony of the 2-day Validation Workshop for the Restorative Justice Document developed by Kano state Steering Committee, Jacob Tsado Executive Director, Prison Fellowship Nigeria lauded the Chief Judge of Kano State for her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to justice reform.
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He noted that her timely constitution of the Restorative Justice Steering Committee, following the highly impactful sensitization workshop held in February this year was crucial step in advancing the practice of restorative justice in Kano state.
He added that “The validation exercise we are undertaking over these two days is not a routine activity; it is a critical milestone in the journey to institutionalized restorative justice in the state. It provides us with the opportunity to collectively examine, refine, and affirm the documents that will serve as the bedrock for restorative justice practice, policy, and implementation in Kano.”
He pointed out that this work will lay the foundation for a justice system that is more inclusive, healing, and community-centred, one that prioritizes restoration over retribution.”
Mr. Tsado further commended the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme, implemented by International IDEA and generously funded by the European Union, for their continued partnership and support to achieve a desired objectives
He maintained “that through their commitment, we are seeing state-level initiatives such as this gain traction, not only in Kano but across the country, explaining that about three weeks ago, similar RJ validation exercise in Plateau State and Kano is the second.
According to him, Prison Fellowship Nigeria remains committed to the promotion of restorative justice as a pathway to sustainable peace, rehabilitation, and social harmony. We believe this process, once finalized, will equip stakeholders to respond more effectively to crime, reduce recidivism, and foster genuine transformation in our communities.
Also speaking, the National Programme Manager of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, Mr. Dalladi Plang, stated that RoLAC began advocating for Restorative Justice a long time ago.
Represented by the Kano RoLAC Coordinator, Mr. Plang noted that the concept initially started with the Multi-Door Courthouse, emphasizing that having a documented policy for Restorative Justice marks a significant milestone for RoLAC II.
“We are ready to support the program and help mitigate prison congestion in the state,” he said.
Further speaking, the Director of the Multi-Door Courthouse and Chairman of the Steering Committee explained that Restorative Justice will enhance Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms in the state.
He commended the Kano State Chief Judge for his appointment, adding that he remains committed to working assiduously to strengthen the justice sector in Kano.
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Also contributing, the Director of Public Prosecution at the Kano State Ministry of Justice, Barrister Salisu Tahir, said the validation workshop will deepen their understanding of Restorative Justice, especially in their roles as criminal prosecutors.
During the exercise, Justice Watch News gathered that participants engaged in thoughtful discussions before making resolutions on every section of the Restorative Justice policy documents.
