68 FCT Magistrates Trained In Non-Custodial Sentencing

Sixty-eight magistrates in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have undergone a training on strengthening alternatives to custodial sentencing as part of efforts to decongest overcrowded correctional centres.

The training was organised by the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee in partnership with the High Court of the FCT, the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC).

Speaking on the sidelines of the training, the director of Magistrates at the High Court of the FCT, Hidayat Olaide Akanni, said it was designed to deepen the use of non-custodial sentencing for eligible offenders.

“It is no longer news that our correctional centres are overcrowded, and there is an urgent need to reduce congestion. This training is aimed at encouraging the adoption of non-custodial measures as an alternative form of sentencing,” she said.

Akanni explained that imprisonment should not be the only punishment available to the courts, stressing that offenders convicted of minor offences could be sentenced to community service and other non-custodial measures where appropriate.

She said criminal justice should not focus solely on punishment but also on restoring victims.

“Beyond punishment, criminal justice is also about restitution. Whenever an offence is committed, someone has suffered a wrong. The victim naturally expects to be restored, as much as possible, to the position they were in before the offence was committed,” she said.

The director, however, dismissed concerns that non-custodial sentencing could allow offenders to evade justice.

“Non-custodial sentencing is not an escape from justice. It remains a form of punishment while also ensuring that victims receive appropriate restitution. It strikes a balance between holding offenders accountable and restoring victims,” Akanni stated.

She disclosed that the FCT High Court, under the leadership of the Chief Judge, was developing legal and operational frameworks to ensure the effective implementation and monitoring of non-custodial sentences.

Akanni also commended the continuous training of magistrates, describing it as critical to improving justice delivery, while acknowledging the support of civil society organisations and the High Court in promoting professional development.

“My message is that we should all embrace non-custodial sentencing because it is beneficial to our criminal justice system. It promotes justice, decongests correctional centres, encourages rehabilitation and ensures that victims’ interests are also taken into consideration,” she added.

The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts to build a more efficient, humane and effective criminal justice system in the Federal Capital Territory.