The Lagos State government has initiated a programme under which victims meet with offenders to resolve disputes.
The new initiative, named Victim/Offender Mediation (VOM), is in furtherance of efforts by the state to ensure quick resolution of disputes and reduce the volume of matters going into litigation.
The first of such sensitisation programme on VOM, organised by the Lagos Restorative Justice Centre, an arm of the state’s Ministry of Justice, held last Wednesday, at the Magistrate Court, Samuel Ilori Court House, Ogba, Lagos.
The VOM provides interested victims an opportunity to meet their offender, in a safe and structured setting.
In his keynote address delivered at the event, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba said the adoption of Restorative System of Justice by the state was to ensure peaceful and quick resolution of disputes.
Justice Alogba who also serves as the Chairman of Criminal Justice Sector Reform Committee (CJSRC), noted that the restorative system of justice is not alien but has been in existence for over three decades and in practice in other jurisdictions outside the country.
The Chief Judge, who was represented by Justice Modupe Nicol-Clay, stated that the traditional justice system has suffered a great deal of setbacks with evident increase in the rate of crime, long prosecution process and overcrowding of correctional facilities, amongst others.
While commending the Lagos RJC team for a job well done, the Chief Judge also expressed his gratitude towards participants and wished everyone a fruitful deliberation.
The Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey, in her address, explained that Restorative Justice is a form of alternative dispute resolution deployed as a tool for decongesting less serious cases in the dockets of the court system and invariably the overcrowded correctional centres.
“In restorative justice, its processes are mindful with just one goal which is justice and healing for offender, victim and society.”
