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Nigeria
Up one level- Elechi, O. Oko. Doing Justice Without the State: The Afikpo (Ehugbo) Nigeria Model.
- The Afikpo indigenous justice system is examined as an alternative system of justice in South-East Nigeria from restorative, transformative, and communitarian principles. Despite the dominance of the Nigerian state criminal justice system in social control, the Afikpo indigenous justice system still holds sway, and is perceived to be more effective and legitimate. The Afikpo model is rooted in the traditions, cultures and customs of the people. Indigenous social and political institutions function as channels for conflict resolution and justice. The processes and principles of conflict resolution are emphasized. The model's continued perceived popularity and legitimacy are discussed, as is the basis for the system's co-existence with the Nigerian State agencies of social control. (excerpt)
- Liebmann, Marian. Victims and Restorative Justice Around the Globe
- Liebmann describes her experiences as a trainer in victim-offender mediation and victim's perceptions of restorative justice in several countries. These include Russia, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, and Gambia.
- Elechi, O. Oko. Doing Justice Without the State: The Afikpo (Ehugbo) - Nigeria Model
- The Afikpo community conflict resolution model is examined as an alternative system of justice in South-East Nigeriaxe2x80xa6. A major finding of this study is that the Afikpo model is victim-centeredxe2x80xa6 Further, the Afikpo community conflict resolution model is inclusive and seeks to address the interests of all parties to the conflict. The social solidarity and humane emphasis of the system is reflected in the treatment of offenders. The institutions of social control are formal agents of resocialization, hence providing offenders support through teaching and healing. The offender must first acknowledge the wrong, then, show remorse, shame, and accountability through reparation and expiation. This study is grounded in theories of restorative justice and other concepts of African justice. Inquiries into state, state/society and postcolonial state theories are undertaken to further illuminate this phenomenon of an alternative conflict resolution model. Being an exploratory study, several qualitative research methods were utilized. They include participant observation, oral history, in-person and focus group interviews of 40 men and 15 women. Authorxe2x80x99s abstract.
- Omale, Don John. Towards Implementing RJ in Nigeria: The Nigerian Criminal Justice Reform Bill (2005).
- In the Nigerian criminal justice sector, the author would argue that the confidence of the Nigerian public in the criminal justice system is too low (just like it was argued in relation to England and Wales in the Halliday Review, 2001). There is a feeling that the sentencing framework does not work as well as it should and that it pays insufficient weight to the needs of victims. Too many offenders are returning to court on too regular a basis, and too many Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs) are being detained in the prison. There is insufficient consistency or progression in sentencing practice and sentencers receive insufficient information about whether their sentencing decisions have worked. The sentencing decision itself focuses too much on the offence and not sufficiently on offenders and their future behaviour, social harmony, healing of wounds caused by crime, and the needs of victims of crime. (excerpt)
- Udenta, Udenta. Emerging Trends in the Application of Restorative Justice Principles in Nigeria: Key Legislations and Advocacy Work
- Nigeria emerged out of 15 unbroken years of military dictatorship in 1999, and has since been grappling with critical issues of constitutional governance, rule of law, amelioration of deep-seated abuse of fundamental human and peoplexe2x80x99s rights and the challenges posed by policy thrusts that make ethno-religious and resource conflict a fact of daily life. Restorative Justice principles and practices are still fledging in Nigeria through movement is noted in the area of Legislation and advocacy work. My discussion will thus examine this new phenomenon, and how the nation can attain social stability, national security, peaceful coexistence and the respect of the value of equity, fairness and justice by deploying the best practices of restorative Justice. Abstract courtesy of the Centre for Justice and Peace Development, Massey University, http://justpeace.massey.ac.nz.
- African NGO Works for Transformation in the Justice System
- The Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), founded in 1994, works toward creating a more humane environment in prisons and alternatives to imprisonment. In the area of justice reform, PRAWA’s Community Justice Programme (COJUP) focuses on the implementation of restorative practices in ways that are sensitive to African cultural traditions. The African Transformative Justice Project is one of the programmes designed to introduce alternative practices into the Justice System.
