IVLP Returnee Spearheads Judicial Reforms in

UNCLAS ABUJA 001676

SIPDIS

State for ECA/PE/V/G/A EButler and CDyson; AF/PD
Lagos for PAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO SCUL OEXC NI
SUBJECT: IVLP Returnee Spearheads Judicial Reforms in
Nigeria: GPRA Report on FY-05
AFRP "Women and the Law"
July 11 - 29, 2005



1. Summary: Ms. Faustinah I. Kola-Olalere, Chair of
Magistrate Association of Nigeria (MAN) returned from
her IVLP program with a consuming passion:
transforming Nigeria's courts emphasis on punishment
to correction and reformation. She hopes this new
emphasis would reduce Nigeria's crime rate by fifty
percent. Looking ahead, she hopes that there will be
separate prisons and reformatory centers established
for women before her career ends in 20 years. End
summary.


2. Date: July 11 - 30, 2005
Fiscal Year: FY - 2005
Quarter: Fourth


3. Ms. Kola-Olalere is a Magistrate in the city of
Ilorin, Kwara State, in central Nigeria. She has
already begun bestowing corrective and reformatory
judgments as opposed to punitive judgments. She is
conveying this message to her colleagues in the
Magistrate Association of Nigeria (MAN). Given that
Magistrates handle over 80% of litigations in Nigeria,
Post is hopeful that Ms. Kola-Olalere's crusade
will have a multiplier effect and spur judicial
reforms, which will result in promoting democracy in
Nigeria.


4. Although Ms. Kola-Olalere had challenges on the
return leg of her journey, because her U.S. visa did
not provide sufficient travel time, her overall
impressions of the program was very good. She was full
of praises for ECA staff, ELOs, and host family, Jerry
and Mary Jordan, who welcomed her in Dallas for three
additional days while her travel was being arranged.

CAMPBELL