Jonathan advocates more redemptive Justice System

Jonathan advocates more redemptive Justice System
Uche Aneke, Abuja

Nigeria's President, Goodluck Jonathan, says justice administration in Nigeria should include forgiveness and relief to those that have showed repentance.

President Jonathan stated this in the State House Abuja while inaugurating the newly reconstituted Presidential Advisory committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.

He said that the pursuit of forgiveness in the administration of Justice should be made more correctional than punitive.

The president expressed enthusiasm that by doing this, the country would achieve more by making the justice system a bit more redemptive while paying particular attention to human rights especially where there was ample evidence of abuse.

The 13-member committee is headed by the Justice Minister while the director of special duties office of the Secretary, Government of the Federation is the secretary.

Other members are drawn from government agencies Human Rights Commission and the judicial circle.

Cultural transformation and value reorientation.

Inaugurating the committee, President Goodluck Jonathan charged the members to quickly settle down to work and clear the backlog of cases in the interest of justice.

In his words,” we need to place emphasise on our cranial system being more correctional. We need to create opportunities for convicted persons, either after completing their terms or before they do so considering the circumstances to be re-integrated back to the society and rehabilitated.”

He also charged the members to go beyond the work of prison decongestion and redressing miscarriage of justice to include being vanguards of cultural transformation and value reorientation.

Prerogative of Mercy

He however said that those who look forward to the option of the Prerogative of Mercy would be disappointed if they fail to refrain from criminal conduct.

He pointed out that the security agencies have been mandated to go after the promoters of terror and other anti-social activities in the country to bring them to book.

Speaking on behalf of the chairman of the committee, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, promised that the committee would deliver on its mandate as suggested by the president.

The Prerogative of Mercy under the Nigerian constitution empowers the president and the governors to grant pardon on those earlier convicted either by death sentence or prison sentences.

Williams