Source: (2010) African Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies. 4(1): 55-86.
The lack of peace in most post-colonial African nation-states
is tied to unresolved political asymmetry among peoples with
contending narratives of origins and power relations. The
Justice system bequeathed to these states at their ‘flag’
independence has been unsuitable for evolving a justice
continuum that can ameliorate the asymmetry and
consequent conflicts. However, Restorative Justice appears
to hold promises and inspirations for affected nation-states.
Nevertheless, this article contends that a perceived hyperromanticisation
of Restorative Justice’s promises must be
tempered with critical realism about its ambiguities.
Nigeria’s Restorative Justice experiment, “Human Rights
Violation Investigation Commissionâ€, serves as point of
reference. (Author’s abstract).
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