FG inaugurates Legal Aid Council governing board

By Ochiaka Ugwu

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar

Malami SAN has inaugurated the Governing Board of the Legal Aid Council.

Malami who conducted the inauguration Wednesday in Abuja urged members of the Governing Board to show exemplary leadership while performing their statutory responsibilities which involved providing policy direction and making Regulations for the Council as stipulated in Sections 2, 3 and 23 of the Legal Aid Act 2011.

The members were: Siraj Sae’eda (SAN), (Chairman), Mrs. Roseline Tasha, Barr. C.U. Ogar, DCP Solomon Lough (SAN), Barr. Audu Karimu, Oluseun Mobolaji Abimbola (SAN), Sammie Abiye Somiari (SAN), Hussain Zakariya (SAN). others are: Adeshina Adegbite FICMC, Comrade M. Adamu, Ms. Rhoda P. Tyoden (FIDA Ex-Officio), Sulaiman Usman (SAN), Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), Haj. Amina Hanga and Mr. Idumu O. Idumu. Continuing, Malami enumerated some of the achievement of the Council to include: Effective implementation and expansion of the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme

(PDSS) by adding some new States like Niger and Bauchi to the earlier pilot states, Special visits to Correctional Centres nationwide which only recently has resulted to the release of 101 inmates from the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre who had been awaiting trial in the past 10 years.

He noted that is important to know that about 2000 inmates nationwide have benefited from the Council’s Jail delivery intervention. He also listed the Certification of Curriculum for Paralegal Studies in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria as empowered by the enabling Act of the Council as one of the Council’s achievement.

While congratulating members of the Board, he also urged them to acquaint themselves with the Council’s enabling Act for effective performance.

It is important to note that new Governing Board has a Three-YearTenure as stipulated in the Legal Aid Act 2011.

The Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Egba congratulated the members and assured them of cooperation and support of the Ministry as the Supervisory Ministry of the Council.

As part of his strategic engagements ahead of the inauguration of the incoming administration, former British Prime Minister and Founder of the Tony Blair Institute, Mr Tony Blair (right), and his team paid a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (left), yesterday in Abuja.