The Director General of the Legal Aid Council (LAC), Aliyu Abubakar has warned against depriving the poor access to justice, charging those in the justice sector to ensure that the poor and indigents get Justice in the society.
Abubakar also urged lawyers, who are already providing pro bono services, as well as those interested in offering free legal assistance to indigent Nigerians, to register with the agency.
He made the call in Abuja at the human rights conference and human rights honour organised by a group of lawyers that provide free legal services to indigent Nigerians known as ‘Call a lawyer’.
The LAC boss said until the poor access justice, the concept of justice is meaningless to the society.
He, therefore, urged all to ensure that justice gets to everyone irrespective of status.
He said: “The Council maintains a register of legal practitioners who represent indigent persons that are qualified for legal aid. This will enable the Council to track and monitor the progress of cases being handled by such lawyers.”
The theme of the conference was: “Human rights, rules of law and the future of Nigeria”.
According to the organisers, the conference sought to promote human rights in the country and to enhance cooperation amongst stakeholders.
Earlier in his welcome address, the executive director of the group, Ekpa Stanley Ekpa said the group is committed to providing legal services to the less privileged in the country.
The Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, represented by Isiku Victor, reiterated the police’s commitment to promoting human rights and rule of law.
He said the police are currently focusing on bridging the trust gap between them and the communities they serve.
This, he said, led to certain initiatives under Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, which include the establishment of the Complaints Response Unit (CRU) and the Public Complaints Bureau (PCB).
According to him, these units are tasked with receiving and addressing public grievances, playing a crucial role in restoring trust and ensuring police accountability.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) James David Lalu emphasised the dire circumstances faced by many of Nigeria’s 35.5 million citizens with disabilities.
He said these individuals often live in poverty, lack education and are unaware of their rights under the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
“Since the Act’s passage, the NCPWD has been working to address these issues, yet significant challenges remain.
“Many disabled persons are unable to assert their rights due to financial constraints and lack of legal assistance,” he declared.
