Justice System In Esanland ...Ibore Youths setting pace

Justice System In Esanland ...Ibore Youths setting pace

By: Oriaifoh Godwins

Ibore, popularity known as the Glorious City of Fame, definitely have a very long history in its communal existence, looking at the history of the little town from when the people migrated from Otuor, in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo state, to Akho-Irrua, to the present location in Esan Central Local Government Area.

The Justice administration in Ibore, as organised by the Youths, Ibore Akoamen Youths Association, is similar to what obtained in the days of old, before the white man's civilization came to put a knife on the tradition that bond us together.

Speaking from my personal experience, where i witnessed justice being administered by the Youths of the town, the idea of bending justice, to favour one party, for whatever reason, does not exist. Once you 'break the edge', you get bitten by the snake.

Just like every other village in Esanland, pilfering, petty lies, frauds of various forms and several other wrong doings happen in Ibore, but the difference is: 'Thou must not be brought before the Ibore youths justice system; otherwise, evading justice at that point, is like a carmel passing through the eye of the needle, which of course, is an utopia.

In Ibore, the fear of Ibore Youths justice administration system, is the beginning of wisdom for criminal elements in that community.

Mr. Moses Usifoh the Chairman, Ibore Akoamen        Youths Association

Speaking with Mr. Moses Usifoh the Chairman, Ibore Akoamen Youths Association, on what made the justice administration in Ibore, by the Youths to be respected by the people and feared by criminal elements and trouble makers in the community, Mr. Usifoh revealed that, fairness, in our delivery of Justice, and the resolve of the whole Ibore Youths, is the reason. He said; "...where there are no laws, there cannot be offences; but where laws exists, the people must resolve to ensure that the laws are respected; and for us, the youths in Ibore, irrespective of whose ox is gored, we deliver justice fairly and without favour"

"...this is why even our adversaries know that, we don't joke with fairness when delivering justice..."

"for me, transparency and truth, must at all time guide us, because truth stands forever, it remains the truth, even when some people attempt to bend it, it will still someday, come out as the truth". These, according to the Chairman of Ibore Akoamen Youths Association, are what makes the people to have trust and confidence in the justice delivery system in Ibore Community. 

Again, unlike what obtains in other justice administration system, where three to five or seven jury members are entrusted with the responsibility of administering justice, every individual present at the gathering, can ask questions, to make the job of the final decision by the jury easy...(and like the story of the justice delivered by King Solomon in the bible) before justice is delivered, it would have been clear to both the accused and the complainant who is wrong and who is right.

Isn't it time for other communities in Esanland to borrow a leaf from Ibore Akoamen Youths Justice System? I think the time to do that, is now. If all the youth in our communities should take up this challenge, it will go a long way to decongest our courts and the Police will have less work to do in terms of keeping peace and security. Ibore Youths, I hail thee.... Kudos.