The commissioner for justice Ebonyi state Barrister Ben Oddo, says the new government headed by His Excellency, Right Honourable Francis Nwifuru, will move away from the current retributory to restorative justice delivery system as a way of building a better society that will experience less crime going forward.

Barrister Oddo made these remarks in an exclusive interview shortly after being sworn-in as the commissioner for justice Ebonyi state.

He explained that retributory justice system is what justice is, and that restorative system is what justice ought to be and that is what he intends to do by overhauling the entire ministry of justice he superintends.

The new Ebonyi commissioner for justice further disclosed that this reform will be implemented using the already existing Ebonyi state legal framework, known as the Ebonyi state administration of criminal justice law of 2019, which gives administration of criminal justice the opportunity to humanise punishment thereby creating an environment that infuses humanity into punishment.

He opined that justice is not all about going to court to fight a case and wants lawyers in the ministry of justice to see themselves as not problem fighters but as problem solvers.

Barrister Oddo promised that the Ebonyi state ministry of justice under his watch will establish citizens mediation centre within his first one hundred days in office, which will cater for indigent Ebonyians who have cases but do not have money to pay lawyers.

As part of the new approach to justice delivery in Ebonyi state, all court proceedings will be digitalized to enable lawyers and members of the public track and know the level of every ongoing cases.

Barrister Oddo equally disclosed that in order to achieve maximum results, his ministry will partner will all relevant stakeholders including office of the first lady in the state.