By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has tasked state Attorneys-General to support the full implementation of independence and financial autonomy for the judiciary across the States as provided for under the constitution.

Fagbemi said that the autonomy was a mark oftrue and holistic commitment to the ideals of democracy, good governance and the rule of law.

The Minister made the call while addressing judicial officers during the South East Special Policy Summit on Criminal Justice Reforms held in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital, on Wednesday.

He saidthat the summit would serve as an avenue for promoting access to both civil and criminal justice in terms of deployment of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Plea Bargaining and Restorative Justice in Civil and Criminal Justice Reforms.

The Attorney-General expressed joy that the Chief Law Officers in the South East have set a noble pace with the initiative of promoting criminal justice administration in Nigeria.

He urged relevant stakeholders and authorities in the region to continue to support measures to ensure effective implementation of their various roles under the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws and to also work on improving same through appropriate legislative amendments.

The Minister noted that an effective and efficient justice systemwas a panacea for peace, stability and economic growth and development, adding that it was critical to continue to take necessary steps to promote access to justice and rule of law within their respective spheres of authority.

He maintained that justice sector responsibilities, functions and activities were cross-cutting and interwoven, while the powers to implement these responsibilities were co-located in different institutions involved in the administration of justice and that their duties as Chief Law Officers were to lead the coordination of the rule of law.

Fagbemi equally stated that the concept of victim compensation was integral to a comprehensive criminal justice system, stressing that both Norway and the Netherlands prioritize compensating victims for the harm they have endured which provides a tangible form of justice but also acknowledges the rights and needs of those directly affected by crime, fostering a sense of closure and redress.

He pointed out that non-custodial options represent a progressive departure from the over reliance on incarceration and that those options, whether in the form of community service, probation, or alternative dispute resolution mechanism allow for a more tailored and rehabilitative response to criminal behaviour.