The minister of justice and Attorney-general of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has urged the Governing Board of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria to expand free legal representation and deploy mechanisms aimed at reducing the population of awaiting-trial inmates.

Mr Fagbemi made the call while inaugurating the governing board of the council on Wednesday in Abuja.

The minister described access to justice as a national security imperative rather than a social welfare programme.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s administration intends to make legal aid a central pillar of its justice sector reforms by using early legal intervention to tackle arbitrary detention, speed up criminal trials and ease pressure on correctional facilities.

The board is chaired by retired Justice Sulyman Kawu, a renowned Nigerian jurist and former chief judge of Kwara State.

Mr Fagbemi urged the board  to provide strategic policy leadership that would enable the council to strengthen operational initiatives such as the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme (PDSS) and the Court Duty Solicitors Scheme (CDSS).

He said that both policies were designed to ensure suspects obtain legal representation at the earliest stages of arrest and prosecution.

“We are committed to supporting the council through policy coordination, inter-agency advocacy, and institutional strengthening. As we know, access to justice is not a luxury but rather a prerequisite for national security, public trust, and socio-economic harmony.

“The composition of this governing board is deliberately designed to reflect broad stakeholder participation, gender balance, and sector-wide inclusivity. This board is uniquely positioned to guide the Council toward fulfilling its critical mandate without descending into or interfering with day-to-day administrative management.

“With your wealth of judicial experience and the collective expertise of the eminent members of the board, I believe the council will continue to strengthen access to justice for indigent and vulnerable Nigerians while remaining steadfast in the discharge of its statutory mandate. I have no doubt that in a society where economic disparities can hinder the assertion of basic rights, the council will ensure that poverty is never a bar to justice,” he said. 

He reminded the board that Section 19 of the Council Act specifically mandates it to visit correctional facilities, police cells, and detention centres to monitor awaiting-trial inmates.

The minister urged the board to key into the ongoing reforms under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and actively contribute to its legislative amendments so that our legal frameworks remain responsive to contemporary realities and global best practices.

He urged them to look beyond traditional budgetary allocations by cultivating partnerships with development partners, strengthening pro bono networks with the NBA, leveraging legal technology, and building seamless inter-agency synergy with the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and civil society.

Earlier in his acceptance speech on behalf of the members of the board, Mr Kawu expressed their readiness to work assiduously with stakeholders in the judicial parlance to justify the confidence repose in them.

(NAN)