Delegations from the Plateau and Jigawa States Ministries of Justice on Friday 24th May 2024 visited the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender to understudy the working processes of the Agency at Its Surulere head office.
The Delegation from Plateau State was led by the Honourable Attorney General/ Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Philemon Audu Daffi while the Jigawa State Delegation was led by the Honourable Attorney General/ Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Bello Abdulkadir Fanni.
Welcoming the Delegations to the Agency, the Director, Office of the Public Defender (OPD) Mrs Olubunmi Adesomoju informed them about the historical background of the office, she disclosed that the Agency started as a Unit under a Department in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice on 24th of July 2000 known as Citizen’s Rights Department. OPD eventually became autonomous with the enactment of the OPD Law.
She stated further that the office is a body established by the Lagos State Government to render free & quality legal services in criminal and civil cases to 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 etc.
Adesomoju also mentioned the structural components that made up the Office, 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.
She disclosed that the Office has resident Counsel in all the High courts and all Magistrate courts in the State and provide legal representation.
She added that the Agency also has some functional committees that make it function efficiently and effectively, this includes the Rescue Mission committee, Advocacy/Campaign committee, Project committee, Correctional Center Visit committee etc.
In his remark, the Hon. Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice Plateau State, Barrister Philemon Audu Daffi disclosed that both delegations were in Lagos State to get practical solutions that would make access to justice a reality for their people, he added that they wanted practical steps that can be implemented immediately. He mentioned that they were both on the verge of commencing the Office of the Public Defender in their States.
The Jigawa State Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Bello Abdulkadir Fanni spoke in the same line with his colleague from Plateau, he added that they discovered that there is a gap to be filled in their States especially in the area of case management and that was a major part of the reason for their visit.
The two delegations were furnished with information and materials that would assist them in accomplishing their vision of rendering prompt & adequate access to justice to their people.
The two Hon. Commissioners thanked the Lagos State Government on behalf of the Governments and people of Plateau and Jigawa States for the warm welcome & kind gesture accorded to them by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Public Defender in giving them an insight into how effective & impactful access to justice is being implemented in Lagos State.
Olatunde Olusesi
Head Public Affairs
OPD
25/5/2024.
