LEGAL AID COUNCIL AS A STRATEGIC PARTNER IN JUSTICE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN NIGERIA: AN APPRAISAL

Abstract

Access to Justice and the right to legal aid both in the Criminal and Civil litigations are universally accepted principles of fair hearing as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended). Legal Aid Council is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Justice in Nigeria, and its core mandate is to render free legal services in the form of legal representation in courts prison visits, Police solicitor ship scheme, Legal Advice, on behalf of indigent Citizens who cannot afford to engage the services of private legal practitioners. Given the strategic position of the Council in the justice delivery chain in Nigeria, the existence and Impact of this agency is not much felt principally due to poor funding from the Government and lack of awareness about the existence of the council. Against this background, this work examines the mandates/objectives of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria which qualifies it to fit in as a strategic Partner in Justice Delivery System in Nigeria. This writer is of the view that government at all level and the well to do in the society, have to improve their funding and financial contributions towards getting an enhanced justice delivery system for the vulnerable in the society.