Ekiti State government has commenced the implementation of its restorative justice framework with a stakeholders’ summit and capacity-building programme.
The programme is aimed at deepening understanding of restorative justice and establishing a coordinated institutional approach to its implementation within the state’s criminal justice system.
The summit was convened by the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), implementing partner of the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme.
The programme brought together key stakeholders in the administration of justice, including representatives of the Ministry of Justice, police, correctional services, magistracy, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), traditional institutions and other relevant justice-sector institutions.
Declaring the summit open, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata, SAN, said the government had demonstrated its commitment to restorative justice through the enactment of the Ekiti State Administration of Criminal Justice (Second Amendment) Law, 2026.
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The AG, who was represented by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Gbemiga Adaramola, noted that while the legislation provided the necessary legal foundation for restorative justice, legislation alone could not guarantee successful implementation.
According to him, restorative justice requires strong institutions, clear procedures, competent practitioners and effective collaboration among stakeholders, making the stakeholders’ engagement particularly important.
Speaking on the essence of the initiative, the Lead Consultant of the RoLAC programme, Mrs Caroline Etuk, said the intervention was designed to introduce and strengthen restorative justice in Ekiti State in collaboration with the state government.
Etuk explained that restorative justice provides an alternative mechanism for resolving certain criminal matters without necessarily subjecting offenders to prolonged court trials or incarceration, particularly where an offender admits responsibility and both the victim and offender are willing to reach an agreement.
Also speaking, Mrs Kumbo Ezeh, noted that restorative justice was not entirely new to Nigerian society, stressing that traditional institutions had historically employed similar approaches to resolve disputes, repair harm and restore relationships within communities.
She explained that the current initiative was aimed at refining, formalising and institutionalising such practices within the modern justice system through appropriate legislation and structured procedures.
Earlier, the pioneer Director of the Restorative Justice and Community Service Department, Ekiti State Ministry of Justice, Dr Modupe Nancy Wiwoloku, an expert in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Restorative Justice, described the stakeholder engagement as a significant step towards a broader shift in the administration of justice in Ekiti State.
She said the enactment of the Ekiti State Administration of Criminal Justice (Second Amendment) Law, 2026, which incorporated restorative justice into the state’s criminal justice framework, had created the legal basis for the initiative and made stakeholder engagement essential.
According to her, the summit was not merely about introducing a new concept, but about ensuring that police officers, lawyers, magistrates, correctional officers, community leaders and other stakeholders understood how restorative justice operates and the roles they are expected to play in its implementation.
Wiwoloku described restorative justice as an aspect of criminal justice that seeks to address not only the punishment of offenders but also the needs, welfare and rights of victims of crime.
“Initially, justice was justice, particularly when it is criminal justice. Once a criminal offence is committed and it is brought to court and proven, the offender is punished. But restorative justice asks: what happens to the victim of the crime?” she said.
She explained that, under restorative justice, the victim and offender may be brought together where appropriate, provided the offender acknowledges the offence, demonstrates remorse and is prepared to take steps to repair the harm caused, while the victim is willing to participate in the process.
She added that appropriate cases could be referred to restorative justice at different stages, including before they reach court, through the police, correctional institutions or community leaders, depending on the circumstances and suitability of the matter.
Wiwoloku, however, stressed that restorative justice must not be imposed on victims, noting that the willingness of the parties to participate voluntarily remained fundamental to the process.
Participants at the summit subsequently engaged in interactive sessions, during which they were divided into groups to examine key issues affecting mediation and the implementation of restorative justice in the state.
The sessions, facilitated by Mrs Kumbo Ezeh and Mrs Caroline Etuk, provided participants with an opportunity to examine practical challenges, opportunities and mechanisms required to make restorative justice effective within Ekiti State’s justice system.