- Lagos OPD sensitizes Epe market leaders on free legal aid and access to justice.
- Iyalojas and Babalojas assured of legal representation without fees.
- OPD stresses zero tolerance for gender-based violence, child abuse, and unlawful detention.
The Office of the Public Defender (OPD), under the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Epe Divisional Office, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, sensitized executive members of the Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria, comprising Iyalojas and Babalojas of all markets in Epe Division, on the free legal assistance available to Lagosians.
Eko Hot Blog reports that addressing the market leaders, including the Iyaloja-General of Epe Division, Alhaja Ogunsanwo Wuraola, and the Babaloja-General, Chief Yekini Nureni, the Head of the Epe Divisional Office, Mrs. Yetunde Oduloye-Alowonle, emphasized the state government’s commitment to ensuring equal access to justice.
“With OPD, your legal matters can be carried out without costing you a dime. Lagos State Government does not want anyone to suffer legally as a result of financial constraint, that is why the Office of Public Defender was created to assist all Lagosians without discrimination,” she said.
Mrs. Oduloye-Alowonle added that OPD lawyers represent citizens in court free of charge, while stressing that cases of sexual and gender-based violence, domestic violence, child abuse, and unlawful detention will not be tolerated in Lagos State.
Also speaking, Mrs. Matanmi of the OPD enlightened participants with real-life cases previously handled by the agency. She urged them not to remain silent in the face of human rights violations.
“Your girl-child is raped, but because of stigmatization or pressure from community leaders you refuse to report, that is wrong.
You must think about the future of your child because the psychological effect of rape is immense. The rapist must be dealt with legally to serve as a deterrent, while the victim is given proper care,” she stressed.
Market leaders from Arashi, Oluwo, Aiyetoro, Ita-Opo, Estate, Papa, Araromi, Epe Ero, Shade, and Oja Oba were present at the sensitization, where their questions were addressed before the programme ended with a photo session.
