A non-profit organizations, Rights Enforcement and Public Law Centre (REPLACE) partnering with Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) ,Community and Child Protection Network
has sensitized residents on fundamental rights, and free access to legal aid, among others.
The publicity and the sensitization campaign was held at Bakare Market, Ifako-gbagada area of Kosofe this week.
The event was attended by traditional leader representatives, market women, and men, Community Development Associations, Community Based organizations, residents, complainants, team of lawyers, among others.
While speaking at the sensitization programme the representatives of REPLACE, Mr. Segun Babalola noted that the group are prepared to provide free access to justice to any persons in need on their fundamental rights free of charge through their Network of lawyers in every communities.
According to him, section 36(5) of the 1999 constitution provides for presumption of innocence of a person charged with a criminal offence. This provision entitles all accused persons to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect as an innocent person until such a person is proven guilty by a court of law.
He said the group is looking at providing access to Justice to vulnerable persons in Nigeria. Also looking at some communities in Lagos on how to have access to Justice when the need arises especially for the vulnerable persons such as market women and men, children, Persons With Disabilities (PWD), Widows, among others to have legal access in the country.
” We discovered that they needed access to Justice when their rights is been infringed upon. Hence, informed the awareness programme, according to Replace representatives.
The awareness was brought to the stakeholders so that anytime they are in need of Justice for domestic violence, sexual abuse, others to raise an alarm and call for help through group Network of lawyers domicile in every community, who volunteered to help needy when the Occasion arises.
Earlier, REPLACE Coordinator who also doubled as CCPN Coordinator in Kosofe, Comrade Rasheed Awofeso noted that the programme is one of the most topical legal intervention to assist the vulnerable people.
According to Awofeso said, “the programme is meant to help the vulnerable people so that they can claim their rights and bring succour to the community most especially those who can not afford legal fee”.
He stresses the the programme is being put in place to bring succour to the vulnerable people in terms of legal representation anywhere in Lagos State and beyond at no cost.
The Olisa of Ojota kingdom, Chief M. O Odusanya , commended the Group for the intervention programme.
“Personally, I appreciate the groups that organized this programme. It’s a programme that will encourage and enlighten more parents especially the low cadre that doesn’t have much to sponsor themselves financially, he said.
He noted further that the group will assist several people who are not financially buoyant to seek redress when the needs arises.
He implored Government to support the organization programmes to enable them spread information across all communities.
He added that traditional, community, religious, Community Development Associations leaders, among others should be further engaged to spread the information to every Community.
The participants in attendance expressed deep appreciation and assured the groups of taken the enlightenment further to their respective Communities.
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