The Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice has officially introduced an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism, shifting away from traditional litigation processes to more accessible and people-centered justice systems.
This new initiative aligns with Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration and its guiding policy, the People’s Charter of Needs, which promotes reforms tailored to the needs of the common citizen.
During a press briefing in Abakaliki, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ben Uruchi Odoh, announced the initiative as part of broader justice sector reforms marking his upcoming two-year milestone in office.
Dr. Odoh, who also chairs the Body of States Attorneys General of the Federation, explained that the reform transitions Ebonyi’s judicial system from a retributive justice model to a restorative justice framework that promotes reconciliation and rehabilitation over punishment.
“We reviewed and amended our laws to make this shift possible. For instance, Ebonyi is the first state to establish a State Correctional Service aimed at rehabilitating minor offenders through our Prison Farm initiative,” Odoh revealed.
He explained that instead of sentencing individuals who commit minor offences to correctional centers, they can be redirected to the Ebonyi State Prison Farm for rehabilitation—a move that emphasizes humane and reformative justice.
The Multi-Door Courthouse, now operational in Ebonyi State through legal backing, offers citizens multiple avenues to seek justice outside conventional courtrooms.
These include:
- Arbitration
- Conciliation
- Negotiation
- Hybrid processes like expert appraisal and early neutral evaluation
- Consensus and coalition building
“We’ve successfully resolved about 86 longstanding cases through these alternative channels,” Odoh said.
He also highlighted the establishment of the Office of the Public Defender, a unit dedicated to offering free legal representation to underprivileged and marginalized individuals, especially inmates without legal support.
As part of the Justice Ministry’s case management efforts, Dr. Odoh noted:
- 898 criminal cases are currently in court; 122 have been resolved.
- 877 civil cases were documented, with 452 concluded and 444 still pending across various courts, including the High Court, Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, and the Supreme Court.
To further enhance the justice delivery process, the Ministry has transitioned from analogue to digital legal operations, establishing virtual courtrooms and an electronic Ministry of Justice.
“We’ve also provided consistent professional development for young lawyers and improved access to legal research with a newly established legal library,” he added.
Dr. Odoh emphasized that the current administration has prioritized legal education by offering bursaries and scholarships to aspiring law students and consistently training legal practitioners.
He also commended the reform that removed police officers from prosecutorial roles, now replaced with qualified legal professionals, which has significantly improved courtroom procedures and case outcomes.
The Attorney General assured the public of continued improvement in justice access across Ebonyi State and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to a system that upholds human dignity, fairness, and timely justice delivery.
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