By Felix Kuyinu
A team from Plateau and Jigawa States Ministries of Justices have paid visit to the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender, OPD, for an understudy on working process of the agency.
At the Agency’s head office in Surulere, the visiting teams led by their Attorney Generals and Commissioner of Justices: Barrister Philemon Daffi of Plateau and Barrister Bello Fanni of Jigawa State informed that there is a gap to be filled in their states especially in the area of case management, hence, being one of the motives for their visit.
While noting that both states were on the brink of commencing activities on their Office of the Public Defender, Barrister Daffi said that both states were keen on getting practical solutions that would make access to justice a reality for their people. His counterpart, Barrister Fanni, added that the reason behind the visit also cut across the need of getting along with practical steps that can be implemented for a reform of judicial functions in both states.
In her remark, the Director, Lagos Office of the Public Defender (OPD), Olubunmi Adesomoju, informed the guests on the historical background of the office.
Adesomoju disclosed that the Agency, in July 2000, started as a Unit under a Department of Lagos State Ministry of Justice known as Citizen’s Rights Department. She informed that the OPD eventually became autonomous with the enactment of the OPD Law.
The agency’s Director noted that the agency which is made up of structural components which includes the Criminal Defence of the High Courts & Magistrate Courts Units, Family and Child Justice Unit, Civil and Small Claims Court Unit, Social and Welfare Unit, Public Affairs Unit among others was established by the Lagos State Government to render free & quality legal services in criminal and civil cases.
She hinted that the agency is keen on the indigents and vulnerable residents of the State with emphasis on issues threatening the socio-economic rights of the poor as well as other vulnerable groups such as children, women, the physically challenged, pensioners, widows and lots more.
Adesomoju disclosed that the Office has resident Counsel in all the High courts and Magistrate courts in the state providing legal representation.
She added that the Agency also has some functional committees which includes the Rescue Mission Commitee Advocacy/Campaign Commitee, Project Committee and Correctional Centre Visit Committee, to mention few, that make it function efficiently and effectively.
The visiting entourage appreciated the well grounded information and materials impacted to them which according to them would aid the accomplishment of their vision of rendering prompt & adequate access to justice to their people.
The Attorneys thanked the Lagos State Government for the warm welcome & kind gesture accorded to them by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Public Defender. They hinted on opportunities for more coalition for an effective and impactful access to justice to the people in their states.
