As part of effort to ensure equal access to justice, towards building an egalitarian society, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has assured residents of opportunity to express their grievances irrespective of age, religion or gender.
Governor Abiodun gave this assurance today, during the official launch of the Ogun State Public Interest Law Partnership (OPILP) and Police Duty Solicitor Scheme (PDSS), at the Oba's complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Abiodun declared that OPILP and PDSS are part of the mechanisms his administration intends to use, to achieve the feat of providing residents of the State equal access to justice.
He noted that the OPILP was a partnership between the State government and private sector, through the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to provide free legal services known as ‘pro-bono’ to citizens, while the PDSS was an initiative that attaches lawyers in private practice to police stations, so as to review the numbers of detainees, length of detention and to know whether legal representation has been provided to such detainees or not.
In his submission, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran stated that the launch was as a result of the team spirit and collaboration of parties involved in the initiative, revealing that the State government had put in place security strategies for the safety of the general public.
Mr. Adeniran said lawyers have been attached to each Senatorial Districts in the State, to protect citizens’ right and the police as well, promising that steps have been taken to improve justice for all.
On his part, the State Commissioner for Police, Mr. Edward Ajogun represented by the officer in-charge of Legal Matters, Mr. Charles Akinrosoye stated that the aim of PDSS was to promote community policing.
Speaking on behalf of NBA, its Ilaro branch Chairman, Mr. Bayo Omoniyi, who also doubles as the ‘pro-bono’ Chairman, lauded the State government for bringing justice closer to the people, pointing out that the free legal service, was an initiative that encourages quick dispensation of justice.
Post a Comment