The Prison Fellowship Nigeria, in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) programme, has organized a one-day sensitization workshop on restorative justice, highlighting it as an alternative to punitive measures in the criminal justice system.
The event, themed *”Fostering Justice, Reconciliation, and Community Healing,”* brought together participants from the Anambra State Judiciary, Ministry of Justice, police, correctional centers, and civil society organizations.
Speaking at the workshop, the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Nigeria, Dr. Jacob Tsado, explained that the programme, currently implemented in eight states including Anambra, promotes an inclusive approach to justice. He emphasized that restorative justice focuses on repairing harm caused by criminal behavior by prioritizing offender rehabilitation, victim healing, and the restoration of social harmony.
In her remarks, the Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje, represented by the Director of Public Prosecution, Barrister Nneka Umeozulu, described the workshop as a significant step toward reshaping justice as a tool for reconciliation and societal transformation.
Similarly, the Anambra State Chief Judge, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, represented by the Administrative Judge of Ihiala Judicial Division, Justice Samuel Okoye, acknowledged that while the judiciary has traditionally focused on punitive measures, attention is gradually shifting towards reconciliation and community healing.
The workshop underscored the growing recognition of restorative justice as a means of fostering long-term peace and social cohesion in the state.
