The Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice has established alternative methods for conflict resolution that diverge from conventional court procedures.
This initiative aligns with the philosophy of the current administration, encapsulated in the “People’s Charter of Needs.”
Dr. Ben Uruchi Odoh, the Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, articulated this development during an interview with journalists in Ebonyi State, coinciding with his impending second anniversary in office.
Odoh, who also serves as the Chairman of the Body of States Attorneys General of the Federation, emphasized that upon his assumption of office, he initiated a significant transformation from a retributive system of justice to a restorative framework that is more desirable.
“We amended our laws, we came up with new laws that will help us to achieve this. For instance, Ebonyi State is the first to establish a state correctional service creating for state Prison, for state offenders,” Odoh said.
Who are minor offenders, to rehabilitate them. Instead of them to be sentenced to Correctional centre, but because they have committed a minor offence, they can be sent to Ebonyi Prison Farm,” Odoh added.
The Commissioner stated that the initiative is designed to approach punishment in a manner that emphasizes human dignity, focusing on administering consequences to offenders with a humane perspective.
“Now, every justice seeker in Ebonyi State who seeks for justice through the ministry of Justice or court do not go without getting justice.
“One of the statutory and structural projects this government has done through the State Ministry of Health was the Multi door Court House. We never had Multi door Court House but now, we have a law establishing Multi door Court House.
“The Multi door Court House can give access to Justice seeker who doesn’t want to get the justice through litigation to get quick justice.
“Through this multi-door Court House, you can get justice through negotiations, Mediation, Arbitration, Conciliation, and Hybrid Processes like early neutral evaluation and expert appraisal.
“Other forms are consensus building, coalition building and lobbying,” Odog said.
The Attorney General stated that the aforementioned processes were established to ensure that individuals who prefer not to engage in conversational courts can still obtain justice through the outlined provisions.
“We have resolved about 86 cases which have lingered for a long,” Odoh said.
The Ministry of Justice has established the Office of the Public Defender, which is dedicated to providing legal representation for individuals who lack such support.
This office advocates on behalf of the marginalized and defenceless individuals who are incarcerated.
“We inherited some cases, and we have some whose files have been transmitted by the police since we came on board. We have 898 cases of criminal matters in court. We have been able to dispose of 122.
“In civil matters, we have 877, 444 are pending, while 452 have been concluded in various courts, High Court, Court of Appeal, Federal High Court and State High Court, the Supreme Court, we have been able to dispose of these cases.
“We have also mentored young Lawyers who are aspiring to grow higher. The Ministry of Justice has also changed the analogue system of justice that was on board to a digital system. This administration has also built electronic Ministry Of Justice and virtual Courts,” he stated.
He added that under the watch of Governor Francis Nwifuru, the present administration has been doing well in payments of Bursaries and scholarships to those who are aspiring to be lawyers.
The Ministry can now boast of a Library where Lawyers and Law Students can come and do their research.
“Lawyers have also been receiving professional training and retraining.
“Before now, police used to mess up the prosecution process in the courts but today, those who prosecute for us are lawyers. Police used to go to court and mess up the matter for us but today, it’s no longer like that,” he said.
The Attorney General assured the citizens of Ebonyi State of better and quicker access to Justice delivery.