An NGO, CLEEN Foundation, has engaged stakeholders in the administration of justice to implement the parole system as a window to prison decongestion and convict rehabilitation strategies.
Speaking at a two-day workshop on Thursday, the Executive Director of Cleen Foundation, Mr Peter Gad, said the workshop was convened for stakeholders to discuss the need to depoliticize the parole process.
Gad, represented by Mr Olaniyi Olumayowa, said the Foundation was supported by the MacArthur Foundation on the drive, describing it as a landmark effort to bring out laws that treat the parole system.
He said the efforts were also to drive the processes and standardize the criteria for the selection of inmates.
He said the administration of justice was the cornerstone of any society that upholds the rule of law, stressing that collective efforts are pivotal in ensuring that this cornerstone remains robust and effective.
” This workshop provides an invaluable platform for us to engage in critical discussions, share insights, and evaluate the current state of our legal framework on parole and its broader implication on criminal justice administration in Nigeria.
” Parole is a critical component of our justice system, aimed at rehabilitating offenders and reintegrating them into the society as law-abiding citizens.
” It reflects a balance between punitive measures and the need for rehabilitation, recognizing that the potential for reform and positive change exists within every individual, ” he said.
He explained that the parole system must be supported by a sound legal framework and effective administration in order to achieve its intended outcomes.
In her contribution, Mrs Safiyya Ahmad, a legal practitioner, said the parole system is a new phenomenon under the Nigerian justice system, even as it is being introduced into some institutions.
Ahmad, a representative of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), said stakeholders are still learning how to exploit its benefits through the available laws and established committees.
The Sokoto State Coordinator of Legal Aid Council, Mr Aklehel Shattima, underscored the importance of the parole system in the criminal administration of justice, which is constitutionally recognized in the country.
Shattima said the Parole Act, introduced in 2015, was one of the ways to reduce prison congestion, implement strategies princesses, and improve the country’s criminal justice system.
He described the workshop as a good strategy for ensuring synergy and understanding of the effective ways to implement the parole system in the judicial system.
Newsmen reports that participants ensured appraisals on the legal framework of the parole system, its challenges, and criminal justice laws in Nigeria.
The workshop participants comprised members of FIDA, the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigeria Police Force, the Legal Aid Council, Civil Society Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, and the media.
Source: ABC news