Governor Monday Okpebholo’s justice reforms are laying the foundation for a fairer, safer, and more prosperous Edo State.
Government House Newsletter
25th – 31st August, 2025
OKPEBHOLO ENGINEERS BOLD REFORMS, RESTORES ACCESSIBILITY TO JUSTICE IN EDO STATE JUDICIARY
When Senator Monday Okpebholo assumed office as Governor of Edo State in November 2024, he made a clear declaration: justice must be accessible, swift, and fair. Barely nine months into his tenure, this promise has begun to crystalize through a wave of reforms that are quietly but firmly redefining the landscape of justice delivery in Edo State.
At the centre of this transformation is the Ministry of Justice, led by the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Samson Raphael Osagie. In an exclusive briefing, Osagie outlined the bold steps being taken to strengthen institutions, protect citizens’ rights, and reposition justice as a tool for peace, economic growth, and social stability.
“The governor is clear in his vision to have a secured and developed state through justice; and that is why he has given us both the vision and the backing to ensure justice becomes the lived reality of every Edo person,” Osagie stated, noting that the reforms have been comprehensive.
Strengthening Prosecutions and Legal Representation
The Department of Public Prosecutions is currently handling over two thousand active criminal cases—ranging from murder, robbery, kidnapping, and arson to cases of sexual violence. Dozens of convictions have already been secured and upheld by higher courts, proof of the diligence of Edo prosecutors.
The once-sluggish process of rendering legal opinions and initiating prosecutions has now been quickened. Through the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme, suspects are granted immediate access to legal representation at the point of arrest, ensuring fairness and adherence to human rights.
Civil litigation has equally witnessed a turnaround, with the Ministry successfully defending the state in hundreds of cases and securing multiple judgments within short periods.
Mediation, Rights Protection, and Legislative Breakthroughs
The Ministry has mediated sensitive land disputes, protecting the rights of citizens and sparing them years of litigation. This shift signals not just government victories but also renewed confidence among ordinary citizens that their government stands with them in the face of exploitation.
On the legislative front, Governor Okpebholo’s administration has championed groundbreaking laws to modernize governance and strengthen justice delivery. These include:
- Extension of the retirement age for magistrates,
- Establishment of new regulatory agencies,
- Amendments to property protection laws,
- Development of a new healthcare regulation framework.
The Ministry has also taken on an advisory role in critical contracts and chieftaincy matters, helping avert crises before they escalate. Furthermore, the Citizens Mediation Centre and the Department of Citizens’ Rights have been empowered to resolve disputes—ranging from domestic violence to workplace conflicts—without the crippling burden of prolonged litigation.
Decongesting Correctional Centres
Governor Okpebholo has ordered a bold push to decongest custodial centres, with particular focus on inmates held for years over bailable offences. Many of these individuals, abandoned by families and forgotten by the system, are now being identified, represented, and released.
“This is not just a legal reform, it is a human intervention,” Osagie stressed, noting that it is giving people a second chance at life.
Institutional Strengthening and Judicial Modernisation
Within the Ministry itself, institutional strengthening is ongoing. State counsels are undergoing intensive retraining at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy, equipping them with modern legal skills.
New structures—such as a dedicated appeals office, a fully digitised library, and an e-case management system—are being developed, placing Edo State firmly on the path to judicial modernization.
Restoring Justice as the Heartbeat of Governance
Reflecting on the broader implications, Osagie emphasized:
“What Governor Okpebholo is doing is restoring justice as the heartbeat of governance. By ensuring criminals are swiftly prosecuted, by defending citizens’ rights in civil cases, by reforming our laws, by mediating disputes before they escalate, and by giving voice to the vulnerable, he is sending a message that justice in Edo State is for all, not just for the privileged few.”
These reforms are already reshaping Edo society:
- Communities once plagued by violence are finding peaceful resolution through mediation.
- Investors, assured that property rights will be protected, are regaining confidence.
- Families torn apart by disputes or wrongful incarceration are being reunited.
For ordinary Edo citizens, the justice system is no longer a distant concept but a tangible reality that safeguards their daily lives.
