Lagos lawyer seeks more legal assistance for indigent inmates

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Anthony Makolo, called for more legal aid services for awaiting trial inmates on Thursday to foster justice delivery across the country.

The lawyer, who is the founder ofMakolo Anthony Empowerment Foundation, said in an interview in Lagos that there were insufficient legal aid personnel to cater for the large number of awaiting trial inmates in custody.

He said this has contributed to overcrowding in custodial centers and delays in the dispensation of justice.

Makolo said that his foundation had undertaken to provide free representation for inmates and urged other lawyers to also join in.

“There is still much more to be done; the number of awaiting trial inmates far outweighs the number of legal aid officers or pro bono lawyers available to defend them.

Unfortunately, too, majority of these inmates cannot afford to pay for the services of legal practitioners, and this is where the problem resides,” he said

According to Makolo, in the past government used to provide financial support to pro bono lawyers who represent indigent inmates till conclusion of trial.

“It is the constitutional right of an accused to be represented by a counsel, so it is important for the government to employ more legal aid officers to take up this crucial assignment.

“”We can only do our best to represent the number of inmates we can, and we also urge other legal practitioners to follow suit,” he said.