- The initiative was meant to educate and sensitise members of the public about their fundamental rights and appropriate agencies to consult whenever such rights are violated.
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has extended the Free Legal exercise to Ikorodu community in continuation of the Statewide Legal Clinic Outreach for access to qualitative legal consultation at no cost.
Speaking during the programme held at the auditorium of Ikorodu Central Local Government, the Assistant Director, Community Service, Mr. Olawale Kuforiji, said the initiative was meant to educate and sensitise members of the public about their fundamental rights and appropriate agencies to consult whenever such rights are violated.
Kuforiji reiterated that the Joint Legal Clinic Team, made up of all legal service oriented Departments and agencies in the Ministry such as Office of Public Defender (OPD), Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC), Public Advice Centre (PAC), Community Service Unit, Office of the Administrator-General & Public Trustee (AG&PT), Directorate of Citizens Rights (DCR) and the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), were all on ground to render their services free of charge.
Explaining the functions of the Community Service, Kuforiji said, “the Department is charged with the responsibility of dealing with offenders found to have committed minor offences such as non-usage of the pedestrian bridges, stating that punishments like sweeping of market places and ensuring general environmental sanitation, among others, have been put in place to serve as deterrent, hence, the need for prolonged litigation in such instances is unnecessary.”
The Director, Public Advice Centre, Mr. Tunji Dawodu, stated that the free Legal Clinic is scheduled to hold in all the five divisions of Lagos State (Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos-Island and Epe), with the aim of reaching and providing easy access to legal consultations and representation for the indigent and vulnerable members of society.
While appreciating the Lagos State Government for this laudable initiative, HRH, Oba Richard Ogunsanya, the Olubeshe of Ibeshe Land, Ikorodu and HRH, Oba Abdul Semiu Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, both urged members of the public to embrace alternative dispute resolution, noting that not all matters should be taken to court.
They also used the medium to appeal that the State Government should consider the role of traditional rulers in mediation, as this would go a long way in strengthening the institution.
Responding on behalf of the participants, Mr. Babayemisi Kehinde Fakumoju, expressed gratitude to the Lagos State Government for bringing the legal clinic to Ikorodu. He said the State Government, through the Citizen’s Mediation Centre (CMC) Divisional Office in Ikorodu, has done well in the areas of Alternative Dispute Resolution relating to landlord/tenant disagreement, marital issues, and employers/employees among others, hence, decongesting the courts of unnecessary litigation.
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