Post-Amnesty: Group Canvasses Restorative Justice

A Non-Governmental Organisation known as Transformation Rehabilitation Reintegration Institute (TRRI Technology), has called on the Federal Government to embrace restorative justice as a means of bringing lasting peace and restitution in the Niger Delta region, after the amnesty programme.

With the Amnesty programme designed by the Federal Government to rehabilitate ex-militants in the embattled oil-rich Niger Delta drawing to a close, the group noted that only restoration justice can bring genuine reconciliation to the region.

According to the founder of the institute, Apostle Elijah Elijah, who spoke with The Tide in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt last weekend, “Public morality was grossly violated during the period of militancy.”

He explained that most of the ex-militants were yet to be fully reintegrated into their respective communities because of their past offences, adding that only restorative justice can bring proper reintegration between offenders and victims.

The Peninologist, discussed restorative justice as complementary to the criminal justice system with “a conscientious appeal that will close the door against potential violators of public morality and build social capital.”

He said the institute has a fundamental objective of transforming, rehabilitating and reintegrating ex-offenders into society.

He further explained the re-integration programme is designed to “strengthen urban communities that incorporate mentoring job training and other comprehensive transitional services.”

He said the institute was committed to building a crime-free society through the rudiments of restorative justice, and blamed the growing spate of crime on societal imbalances.

Apostle Elijah also hinted that the institute had concluded plans to organise a restorative training programme in April for target groups, such as traditional rulers, school managers, criminal justice system, paramilitary groups and youth bodies.