The Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice is strengthening efforts to protect survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and improve public confidence in the justice system under the leadership of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Assoc. Prof. Ben Uruchi Odoh.
The development was highlighted in a statement by Leo Ekene Oketa, Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, who said the state’s justice reforms were increasingly focused on ensuring that vulnerable persons are protected and supported in accessing justice.
According to Oketa, the effectiveness of a justice system should not be measured solely by the number of cases prosecuted or convictions secured, but also by the confidence it gives survivors to report abuses and seek protection.
He noted that for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, justice goes beyond legal proceedings, stressing that it involves protection, dignity, access to support and the assurance that victims would not have to navigate the justice system alone.
Oketa attributed the growing emphasis on victim protection and accountability to the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, saying the government was working to build a justice sector guided by the principle that government must stand with those who are unable to stand alone.
He said the fight against SGBV must extend beyond the courtroom to include the creation of an environment where survivors feel safe enough to speak, report offenders and pursue justice without fear of intimidation or stigmatisation.
“Your voice matters,” Oketa said, describing the message as central to efforts aimed at encouraging survivors to speak out against abuse.
He also stressed the need for society to reject the stigmatisation of victims and instead encourage the reporting of offenders, warning that perpetrators should not be allowed to exploit silence, stigma or intimidation to evade accountability.
While acknowledging that significant work remains to be done, Oketa said every survivor who finds the courage to speak, every offender brought to account and every institution strengthened to protect vulnerable people represents progress toward building a more responsive justice system in Ebonyi State.
He described the ongoing initiatives as an important part of the reforms taking place in the Ministry of Justice, noting that some of the most significant achievements of government may not always be immediately visible.
According to him, one of the clearest indicators of successful justice-sector reform is the confidence it gives a vulnerable person to finally speak and seek help.
The statement was issued on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, as part of efforts to highlight the administration’s implementation of its People’s Charter of Needs and its commitment to strengthening justice and protection for vulnerable residents.
