OPD holds workshop for law officers

A five-day workshop on trial advocacy was held for law officers of Office of the Public Defender (OPD), Lagos State Ministry of Justice recently. The advocacy workshop was on criminal and civil implication, examination and cross examination of an expert witness, employment issues and instituting cases at the National Industrial Court.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Inter Government Relations, Mr Sesan Ogundeko, described the International Training Programme hosted OPD as a significant step forward in his administration’s ongoing commitment to ensuring access to justice for all Lagosians, particularly the most vulnerable.

He commended the Commissioner/Attorney General, Mr. Lawal Pedro SAN for his unwavering commitment to redefining Justice in the state through the visionary leadership and support of meaningful reform.

The governor also commended the Director of OPD, Mrs Olubunmi Adenike Adesomoju for her dedication and hard work in continuing the traditional of excellence for which the office is synonymous and for coordinating the activities of the office to meet the goals of government.

In his remarks, the Attorney General disclosed that the journey of OPD has been one of resilience, growth, and unwavering dedication to Justice. The Director of OPD, Mrs. Olubunmi Adesomoju, in her remarks, disclosed that the National Institute for trial Advocacy is a leading provider of legal advocacy skills training with over 40 years experience.

She recalled that since 2016 and every year that followed except 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic, the OPD in collaboration with the institute has trained over 700 participants, some of these according to her include counsel drawn from every department of the Ministry of Justice, judges and magistrates of the state judiciary.