The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and UNICEF don join hand to make sure say vulnerable children across Nigeria fit get free legal representation and access to justice, even when their families no get money to hire Lawyer.
The partnership go bring lawyers from different parts of the country together to protect children wey their rights dey threatened, especially children wey enter contact with the justice system.
NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, say no child suppose dey denied justice because of poverty, disability, vulnerability or any other circumstance. According to am, lawyers involved for the programme go receive special training on child-sensitive justice, so dem fit handle cases involving children with better understanding and care.
The initiative also go create a nationwide referral network wey go connect vulnerable children with lawyers and other child-protection services. The aim na to make legal assistance easier to access and reduce the number of children wey dey face legal problems without proper representation.
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Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, say government dey strengthen the country’s child justice system through existing laws and policies, including the Child Rights Act 2003, Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the National Policy on Justice 2025.
But government also admit say laws alone no enough. Dem need to make sure say the reforms dey work for police stations, courts, correctional centres and communities where children actually dey encounter the justice system.
UNICEF Representative, Wafaa Saeed, say many children for Nigeria still dey face serious challenges, including detention without lawyers, delays in their cases, limited diversion opportunities and weak support systems.
She challenge Nigerian lawyers to consider handling at least one child-justice case free of charge every year, saying if lawyers across the country participate, e fit greatly increase the number of vulnerable children wey get access to justice.
The partnership therefore dey target a justice system where children no go stand alone simply because dem or their families no get money to pay lawyer.
