. Says NBA key partner in providing free legal services
Mr Aliyu Abubakar, Director-General (D-G), of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON), says 70 per cent of Nigerians cannot afford legal representation.
Abubakar, said this on Tuesday in Jos, when he paid a courtesy visit on Da Gyang Buba, the Gbong Gwom Jos, and chairman of the Plateau Traditional Council.
The D-G said that most of the perpetrators of crime, especially capital offenders, were often unable to afford the services of a legal practitioner of their choice.
The D-G said the mandate of LACON was to provide free legal representation for indigent Nigerians.
He said the council was at the palace to intimate the royal father of LACON’s plan to inaugurate a Committee of Legal Aid Service Providers in the state to address some of these challenges.
Responding, the Gbong Gwom Jos commended the council over the visit.
The traditional ruler assured the D-G Plateau traditional council’s unflinching support to the council .
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the D-G will inaugurate the committee on Wednesday in Jos.
Says NBA key partner in providing free legal services
Meanwhile, the Director-General (D-G) of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON) Mr Aliyu Abubakar, says the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is a key partner in providing free legal aid to indigent and vulnerable Nigerians.
Abubakar made this known on Tuesday in Jos, during a working visit on the Chairman NBA Jos branch, Mrs Leah Hassan.
The D-G emphasised the critical role that the NBA, through its members and pro bono services, played in ensuring access to justice for indigent persons who could not afford legal representation.
He said that the top mandate of LACON was to provide free legal assistance and representation, Legal advice, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to indigent Nigerians in conflict with the law.
Abubakar described the NBA as a key partner as it was working in alignment with the council’s mandate.
He said the council was in Jos to inaugurate a Committee of Legal Aid Service Providers through the sponsorship of Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC), a European Union funded programme.
“The Legal Aid Council of Nigeria is here to have a collaboration with all legal aid service providers, who render pro bono services on behalf of the indigent who cannot afford such services,” he said.
The D-G said the essence of the visit was to inform NBA in Plateau of the committee’s inauguration as the association’s involvement was imperative.
He commended the NBA for its unflinching support to the council’s efforts in enhancing access to free legal services to indigent Nigerians.
Responding, Hassan assured the D-G of the NBA’s unflinching support and commitment to the provision of pro bono services to indigent Nigerians without access to legal representations.
The NBA chairperson also assured the D-G of Plateau branch of the association’s full collaboration with the council.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Abubakar also paid a similar visit on Plateau’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Dafi.
Dafi, in his remarks, also assured LACON of the state’s support for its plans and programmes.
NAN reports that the committee of legal aid providers would be inaugurated on Wednesday in Jos by the D-G.
