CLEEN FOUNDATION HOLDS WORKSHOP ON LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF PAROLE AND ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN NIGERIA
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By Adesuwa Ehimuan
In his opening remarks the Executive Director of CLEEN foundation, Mr Gad Peter represented by Mrs Blessing Abiri, Programme Advisor of CLEEN Foundation welcomed participants and stakeholders to a two day performance appraisal workshop on the legal framework on Parole and the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria. Sponsored by MacArthur Foundation, held in Benin city, Edo state.
CLEEN Foundation as a leading organization within the justice sector and is particular in brings stakeholders together regarding criminal justice in Nigeria.
Parole is a critical component of our justice system, aimed at rehabilitating offenders and reintegrating them into 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.
The Attorney General of Edo State, Barr. Wole Uzzi, represented by Director Ministry of Justice, Stella Okojie stated that parole is a conditional realease of criminals before their jail term expires. Section 468 of the Administrative Criminal Justice System ACJL, Edo State 2016 provides,
” Parole is the conditional release of prisoners before the full completion of the sentence “.
She further stated that before you can be eligible for parole, you must have been convicted and faced trial. The convicted inmate must have served one third of his/her term before he/she can request for a parole.
There is a parole board, and each parole board is controlled by the Comptroller of Prison. In Edo State the Parole was established in 2021.
In his goodwill messages, Director, National Human Rights Commission, Dr Olumide Dosunmu said Parole is a new system in Nigeria. It’s a good idea as the CLEEN foundation has brought stakeholders together for a fruitful deliberation.
Mrs Eeosa Osula, ACJMC SEC stated that Parole is about rehabilitating the offender who has been of good conduct. The correction centre should ensure it works in Edo state.
CSP Richmond Ebiwen officer in charge of Human Rights, Edo state Police Command Headquarters said Parole is the permission to release a criminal before the end of their jail term. The offenders are given the opportunity to go back into the society. Not everyone in the correction centre is given such opportunity but some are, and when they are given such opportunity they should be monitored.
Chairman Civil Society Observatory Group, Edo State, Dr Bright Oniovokukor said that the correction facility does not have enough space, the Parole system will be able to help sanitize the system and reduce the population in the correction centre.
High point of the workshop was a panel discussion on challenges and controversies of connecting the parole system and a group photographs by stakeholders and participants.
