FG To Launch ‘Access To Justice Fund’, Says Malami
In a bid to create equal access to justice for all Nigerians, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, on Monday, said the Federal Government would soon launch the “Access to Justice Fund” so as to empower the Legal Aid Council to fulfil its mandate.
Malami made this known while declaring open a two-day Legal Aid Governing Board Retreat in Kano, as quoted in a statement by his Spokesperson Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu.
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“The Minister assured the Council of the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Justice in supporting activities of the Council aimed at providing strategic direction in achieving its mandates, adding that his Office in conjunction with the Management of the Legal Aid Council have duly concluded all the requisite legal arrangements for the launch of the ACCESS TO JUSTICE FUND, a Fund duly provided for under the Legal Aid Act, 2011, which is a unique national fund aimed to raise funds for the assistance of legal aid works in Nigeria,” the statement partly read.
Among other things, the Council’s mandate is to ensure access to free, effective and efficient legal aid services to indigent Nigerians.
As such, Malami urged the Council to continue “to ensure equal access to justice for all irrespective of means and that Constitutional rights of citizens are respected, protected and defended.”
He maintained that the board members should always consider the plight of vulnerable Nigerians.
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“The services of Legal Aid Council are geared towards reducing, to the barest minimum, incidents of Human Rights abuses perpetrated against nation’s citizens.
“The Board’s policies must assist the Council to remain the leading and pro-active provider of free, qualitative and timely legal aid services in Nigeria, ensuring social justice and the emancipation of the oppressed, reprieve to the weak and vulnerable, thereby giving voice to the voiceless,” he said.
Meanwhile, he lauded the good working relationship between the council and the Federal Ministry of Justice, over the years.
“He also commended the Council for releasing thirty-one (31) of its Law Officers for the terrorism trail of Boko-Haram members which, he said provided the requisite legal defence in the trial,” the statement added.
