Is the ‘Legal Aid Architecture’ failing Nigerians?

The statistics are grim. 65 percent of inmates in Nigerian prisons have never been convicted of any crime. Waiting trial period has increased dramatically from 5years to upwards of 10years or more. The police and prison authorities continue to trade blames. Only one in seven inmates awaiting trial have access to private legal representation. Most prisoners are too poor to engage the services of a lawyer. To read more click here www.pmnewsnigeria.com

This situation exactly was the objective of setting up the Nigerian Legal Aid Council in the mid 70s: to provide free legal representation, assistance and advice, together with alternative dispute resolution services to indigent prisoners. Read more of the Council’s stautory responsibilities here www.legalaidcouncil.org.ng The Council has been struggling to make its impact. Admittedly, the Council’s constraints are primarily funding and capacity.

The recent passage and Assent by the President to the new Legal Aid Amendment Act 2011, has been hailed as one way of providing the needed impetus for the Council to act pro-actively, and take their responsibilities more seriously. The Act contains a lot of innovative provisions and strategies for tackling not only the knotty question of legal representation, but addressing the quality of justice delivered. It is still early days to make a definitive impact assessment. One thing is certain though, the Council will need to sit up and justify the tortuous process of ensuring that the 2011 Act was passed into law. No more excuses. Tens of thousands of prisoners are languishing in jail houses, in utter violation of their constitutional rights.