Kano: Emir Advocates Establishment Of Legal Aid Offices In Rural Areas

The Emir of Kano Malam Muhammad Sanusi II on Thursday called for the establishment of legal aid services across rural areas in the state to enhance access to justice

Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II at a two day seminar tagged Expert Level Convening, Consolidating legal Aid Approaches in Kano State organised by partners West Africa Nigeria in collaboration with Kano state ministry of Justice.

The Emir  represented by District Head of Gwarzo, Alhaji Shehu Kabir Bayero  said the establishment of public defenders office in Kano by PWAN is of immense benefit to the residents noting that it gives the people confidence to speak to the Lawyers and para-Legal in the language that they believe that they can be better understood

“ Most of our people at the rural areas are poor that does not even understands what their rights entails and how to go about it. He said that but when a legal aid offices are created in the rural areas will give the residents a sense of belonging and will also reduce crime as the people will be more educated and informed on how to access justice, “said the Emir.

The acting chief judge of Kano state Justice Nura Sagir Umar advocated collaborative efforts of stakeholders to address challenges of child abuse, child labour and other numerous issues affecting women and children.

Justice Nura Sagir represented by Justice Nasiru Sulaiman said that with the high rate of poverty many are conditioned to accept whenever their rights are infringed upon  without challenging but with the creation of Public Defenders Office many of them have their  legal problem solved.

In a remark , Chairperson Public Defenders Office Advisory Council Barrister Hussaina Aliyu Ibrahim urges Lawyers to increase their according indigent people free legal services so as to reduce challenges bedeviling access to Justice

Also speaking, Executive Director, Partners West Africa Nigeria also known as Rue of Law and Empowerment Initiative Mrs Kemi Okenyodo said the implementation of the project that led to the establishment of Public Defenders Office in Kano started in February 2017 and the office has received about 300 reported cases and dispensed with 50

In a goodwill message, Executive Director Legal Aid Forum ,Rwanda , Mr. Andrews Kanaga said one of the factors that led to 1994 genocide in Rwanda was injustice emphasizing that justice must be seen been done in the country to avoid hatred.

Solacebase reports that the two day workshop which is focused on evaluating ways to enhance free legal aid to residents has in attendance participants from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and some parts of Nigeria.