… Courts Must Focus On Rehabilitation, Not punishment
… Traditional Courts Needed To Bridge Justice Gap
… Rural Residents Struggle To Access Justice
Daud Olatunji
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akure branch, has called for urgent reforms in the nation’s correctional system, describing it as largely punitive and ineffective in rehabilitating inmates.
At the conclusion of its Law Week, held at the International Culture and Event Centre (The Dome), Akure, the association lamented that Nigeria’s prisons fail to reintegrate former offenders, creating a cycle of repeat crimes.
The NBA stressed the need for the full implementation of the Correctional Service Act, 2019, to shift from punitive incarceration to a genuine correctional system.
The branch further recommended the establishment of a dedicated department for correctional reforms and highlighted the difficulties faced by rural residents in accessing justice.
“The current framework does not promote rehabilitation. Without functional correctional reforms, offenders are left to return to society unprepared, fueling re-offending,” the NBA stated in a communiqué.
The association also raised concerns about judicial funding, noting that the executive arm often withholds or selectively releases budgets approved for the judiciary.
“Over 70 per cent of funds approved for the judiciary are either withheld or released selectively. True judicial independence is impossible without financial control over the judiciary,” the NBA added.
The lawyers urged the government to implement Section 121(3)(c) of the Constitution, which guarantees judicial financial autonomy, stressing that independence of the courts is critical for the rule of law and democratic governance.
The NBA also advocated the revival of traditional courts in rural areas to improve access to justice and ensure that legal remedies are within reach for all citizens, regardless of location
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