Lawyers seek free legal services to prisoners
Lawyers seek free legal services to prisoners
NAN-H-33
Service
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Jan. 5, 2018 (NAN) Some Lagos-based lawyers on Friday urged their colleagues to be inclined to providing free legal services to prisoners as a means of enhancing justice administration in Nigeria.
The lawyers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the Nigerian legal system would be enhanced if every lawyer offers routine pro-bono (free-of-charge) services for inmates.
They said such services would go a long way in promoting an effective criminal justice system in the country.
A lawyer and civil rights activist, Mrs Adaobi Ezikeoha, said that “there is a constant desire by some accused in custody to secure legal representation for themselves.
“However, a handful of such accused persons cannot afford to pay for the services of a lawyer, which further elongates their stay in custody’’.
Azikeoha suggested that if every lawyer undertook to represent one accused, it would facilitate the dispensation of justice and reduce prison congestion.
She, therefore, urged lawyers to make their impact felt in the profession by providing assistance to prisoners.
Another lawyer, Mr Odeh Ola, also urged lawyers to assist in bringing hope to indigent inmates, who could not afford to pay for legal services.
Ola said that many lawyers were often reluctant to take up pro-bono cases, either due to the existence of the Legal Aid Council, or the Office of the Public Defender that provide same services.
He said that although these bodies had a duty of securing free representation for accused persons, there was still room for the provision of more pro-bono services for the increasing number of inmates.
He urged lawyers to “rise up to the occasion”.
In his opinion, a rights campaigner, Mr Ogedi Ogu, said that the task of providing free services for accused persons should not be left entirely to the government units.
According to him, every lawyer is a stakeholder in prison decongestion.
“The offer of free legal services is a responsibility of every qualified lawyer.
“And this ought to be done with the aim of aiding the Nigeria Criminal Justice system,’’ he said.
Another lawyer, Mr Paul Ohazuruike, commended lawyers who had helped to offer such free legal services for awaiting trial inmates in the past.
He urged other lawyers to emulate same.
According to Ohazuruike, a desire to undertake free representation of an accused should be of paramount concern to every lawyer.
“It forms the basis of good legal practice,’’ he declared. (NAN)
UNS/AIB/MST
Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Muhammad Suleiman Tola