A legal practitioner, Mrs Dorothy Osuji says many Edo indigent residents are unable to access justice because they are unaware that such assistance is available.
Osuji saidthere is need to create more public awareness of free legal aid services in the state.
She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Monday that the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON) provides free legal representation, legal advice and mediation to eligible persons.
She also said the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) offered free legal support to abused women, children and other vulnerable groups.
“Many people do not know that free legal aid exists. These are recognized institutions, not quacks.
“Anyone who cannot afford a lawyer should approach them for assistance,” she said.
She called for sustained public enlightenment campaigns to increase awareness and ensure that more eligible Nigerians benefited from the available legal services.
Osuji’s concerns aligned with findings by justice sector organizations, which showed that awareness of free legal aid remained low in spite of existing legal provisions.
“Studies conducted by the Justice Research Institute and the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) indicate that more than 60 per cent of surveyed Nigerians were unaware that pro bono legal services are available.”
According to the reports, the knowledge gap is driven by limited public awareness campaigns, the concentration of legal aid offices in urban centres, language barriers, inadequate funding for outreach programmes and widespread distrust of the justice system.
“As a result, many low-income Nigerians are left without legal representation when they need it most.
Some residents of Benin who spoke with NAN said they had never heard of free legal aid services before.
Mrs Iziegbe Aihanuwa said she paid substantial legal fees after purchasing counterfeit products because she was unaware that free legal assistance was available.
She said she would encourage others to take advantage of the services now that she knew they existed.
Similarly, Mr Lucky Igbafe said he had always paid for legal services because he did not know free legal aid is available.
“If it is truly free and available to everyone, then people should know about it. It is our right and we should be able to benefit from it. I will also tell my family members about it,” he said.
NAN reports that eligible persons in Edo can access free legal advice, mediation and court representation through the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, the Citizens’ Rights Department of the Edo State Ministry of Justice, FIDA, Nigerian bar Association, Benin Branch, and the National Human Rights Commission. (NAN)
