Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, revalidating his membership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance by participating in the party’s ongoing electronic membership registration exercise on Monday.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, revalidating his membership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance by participating in the party’s ongoing electronic membership registration exercise on Monday. Photo Anambra State Government
The Anambra State Government has called on legal practitioners to volunteer pro bono services to support indigent inmates, with a view to accelerating the dispensation of justice and decongesting correctional centres in the state.
The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke (SAN), made the call in a public notice dated April 17 signed by him and addressed to the Chairman, Committee of Chairmen of the Nigerian Bar Association, Anambra State.
In the notice, Nweke said the initiative was part of efforts by the state government to speed up the conclusion of criminal cases and decongest correctional centres across the state.
He explained that a regulation had been issued pursuant to Section 24 of the Office of the Public Defender Law, 2008, to enable the engagement of external lawyers to provide free legal representation to persons facing criminal prosecution.
The letter, obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, is captioned ‘Free legal representation for indigent persons.’
It read in part, “Further to the efforts of the state government to quicken the conclusion of criminal cases and decongest the correctional centres in the state, I have issued a regulation pursuant to Section 24 of the Office of the Public Defender Law 2008, to enable the Office of the Public Defender engage external lawyers for the purpose of rendering free legal services for those facing criminal prosecution in Anambra State.
“Pursuant to the above, I invite legal practitioners who are willing to offer pro bono legal representation to indigent inmates awaiting trial or those standing trial to apply to register with the Office of the Public Defender.
“Those interested should kindly visit the Office of the Public Defender at Old Government House, Awka, or contact the office through 07030146620 or email [email protected]. Kindly bring this notice to the attention of legal practitioners within your reach.”
According to him, the Office of the Public Defender will coordinate the process by registering interested legal practitioners willing to offer pro bono services.
Nweke reiterated the government’s commitment to improving access to justice and ensuring that no resident is denied legal representation due to financial constraints.
