The FCT Chief judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, has appealed to lawyers to take up pro bono cases in order to help indigent persons in the society.
Bello, who is also the Chairman of the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, made the appeal at a ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of the Legal Aid Council (LAC) of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.
The chief Judge said that the occasion was not just 40 years of physical existence but a celebration of 40 years of community service.
He added that “this is a celebration of 40 years of approbation for those who are in charge of the Nigerian Legal Aid Council.
“There is community service among the duties of a public lawyer; this is covered in the handling of pro bono in furtherance of the mandate of the Nigerian Legal Aid.
“This service is required to rescue indigent and down trodden members of the society; we welcome and encourage such service.
“One thing that bothers me is the lamentable situation under which the LAC operates.
“The legal aid process started in the early 60s as an affair of a few private lawyers before the involvement of government.
“Therefore, there should not be a problem with getting lawyers to engage in pro bono services to rescue indigent members of the society.”
Bello explained that the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, of which the Director General of LAC was a member, had identified some lapses hindering the smooth administration of the Council.
“We have decided to make a case to the Federal Government so that the organisation is given the support it requires.”
The chief judge said the lack of manpower was a major hindrance to the efforts of the Council, adding that “many people have been kept in prisons for ages in the remotest parts of Nigeria because LAC
does not exist there.
“We are waiting for statistics from the prisons to articulate a document that we will present to the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
In her remarks, Sharon Ikeazor, daughter of the late Mr Chimezie Ikeazor (SAN), one of the founders of the Council said “it is the aim of the founders of Legal Aid that no one is denied justice because of poverty.
“We don’t have enough lawyers taking up pro bono cases in Nigeria and the Legal Aid itself does not get enough funding from government in its fight for injustice; the most serious task is the decongestion of prisons.
“People cannot afford to pay their fines, so, many of those awaiting trial are convicted; maybe their sentence would have been for six months but they are there for years.
“The way forward is to educate our young lawyers to take up pro bono cases; only a few lawyers in today’s generation are passionate about social justice or are inclined to take up such cases,” she said.
Ikeazor urged Nigerian lawyers to take up three to four pro bono cases every year to assist the indigent who could not afford to hire lawyers.
“It takes someone with compassion to go out of his or her way to render pro bono services to
anyone.
“Lawyers want to make money, want to be paid for the cases they have taken; it takes a compassionate human being to help the poor.
“We all need a little help every now and again; we must also be willing to help others, especially the less privileged, the indigent.” (NAN)