PDCRC to provide free legal services to 23 inmates at Nigeria Correctional Service, Koton Karfe
The Director General of the Kogi State Office of the Public Defender and Citizens’ Rights Commission (PDCRC), Musa Idris Onogo, Esq., and some Law Officers of the Commission visited the Nigeria Correctional Service, Koton Karfe, Kogi State on Thursday, the 29th August, 2024.
While meeting with Mr. Salisu Musa, the Officer in Charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Koton Karfe, the Director General, PDCRC said the aim of the visit was to see inmates who lacked legal representation for their inability to engage a private legal practitioner.
“We are here to volunteer our free legal representation and legal aid to all inmates who cannot afford to engage a lawyer” the DG added.
Barr. Onogo noted that, the mandate of PDCRC include the provision of legal aid and other related services to the indigent, vulnerable and disadvantaged residents of Kogi State.
He also said, the Commission is an agency of the State that has the responsibility of promoting and protecting the fundamental human rights of all residents in the State.
He stressed that the Commission has the mandate to settle disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mediums in deserving circumstances. He added that the Commission receives petitions or complaints directly from individuals or by referral from government agencies, public and private institutions in the State.
Similarly, he noted that the Kogi State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP), Law, 2022, which came into force on the 22nd day of June, 2022, with the aim of prohibiting all forms of violence against individuals in public and private life is domiciled in the Office of the Public Defender and Citizens’ Rights Commission for implementation and enforcement.
Barr. Onogo reiterated that, the Nigeria Correctional Service remained a critical stakeholder for the smooth operation of the administration of criminal justice and that PDCRC will always be available to ensure access to justice for the indigent inmates and the vulnerable by handling their matters probono.
The DG presented to the Officer in Charge a copy of the Kogi State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP), Law, 2022.
Responding, the Officer in Charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Koton Karfe, Salisu Musa expressed delight for the visit. He applauded the Kogi State Government for the establishment of PDCRC which he noted will assist the indigent inmates and residents of the State to access justice at no cost.
“We greatly need this type of agency that is into the provision of free legal representation to the disadvantaged and indigent in the society” he added.
He assured the DG of his partnership and that he will continue to channel all cases that require legal aid to the Commission for assistance. He noted that the custodial centre has several inmates who have no legal representation and therefore instructed that such inmates be taken before the DG and his team.
Surprising to the DG and his team, twenty three (23) inmates came before them who have no legal representation in Court. While taking the briefs of the inmates, it was discovered that some of them have been in custody for more than one (1) year without significant progress in their cases because they were not represented by a legal practitioner.
Whereas some of the inmates were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court for offences such as criminal conspiracy, theft; notably also is the fact that some of the inmates who should have been properly arraigned before the State High Court or Federal High Court which has the jurisdiction to handle their matters were still appearing on remand proceedings before the Chief Magistrate Court on offences as homicide, kidnapping, unlawful possession of firearms, without lawful authority being in possession of Cannabis Sativa, etc.
The Director General assured the inmates that the Kogi State Office of the Public Defender and Citizens’ Rights Commission will provide legal aid and legal representation to all of them at no cost.
“The Commission will ensure that you all have lawyers to represent you in Court free of charge. The Kogi State Government ably led by our amiable Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo has made adequate provisions for us, and ours is to represent you in Court” the DG stressed.
He encouraged the inmates to keep hope alive and never to give up on themselves. It was indeed a moment of joy and renewed hope for the inmates as they expressed appreciation to the Kogi State Government and the Office of the Public Defender and Citizens’ Rights Commission for the intervention.
Ameh Friday, Esq.Senior Legal Officer/Director General’s Legal Assistant.
