Welcome to Zarephathaid
The year 2024 marked 20 years of a vision of impact, change and reform in the criminal justice system and the society having taken the first bold steps in our legal aid project in April 2004 at the Magistrate’s court Kirikiri in Lagos State of Nigeria where a few indigent inmates of the custodial centre were granted free legal representation and released. Since then, it has been from one level of impact to another. And to mark 20 years of progressive intervention in our space, our legal aid program achieved momentous milestone with the release of several inmates of correctional centres in Lagos, prominent of which is the longest staying pre-trial inmates of the medium correctional facility kirikiri who had stayed 16 years in custody.
A media conference was also organized while our partnership with the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria was strengthened, amongst other landmark accomplishments. Despite these modest achievements, much more needs to be done. The human rights community, which we are part of, has observed sadly the increasing spate of violations, abuses and breaches by state and non-state actors. Indeed, the human rights space is drastically diminishing. The criminal adjudication process is also grinding slower and slower resulting in delayed trials, denied justice and overcrowding in the holding facilities. This demands increased and concerted action. 2025 therefore presents another opportunity to fulfil our mandate as captured in the three thematic areas of legal aid, general welfare and rehabilitation. More specifically, the need to open up a new flank in the FCT has been overbearing judging from reports of dreadful congestion in the correctional facilities. In the coming days, modalities for this intervention will be released as we hope to leverage the help of volunteers. The place of the media toward genuine and lasting reform cannot be discounted and accordingly, we seek far-reaching impact in human rights protection through our social media handles and other media interventions. While we appreciate you for your cherished support all through the 20 years of our sojourn and especially in 2024, we ask for even greater support. The only way to achieve our dreams of a free society built on the rule of law is to persist in the fight and cede no ground to the workers of evil. It is therefore with joy and huge expectation that I welcome you to 2025 and to the dawn of a new vista.
Management & Board of Directors
The Advisory Board of Zarephath Aid is made up of
OLADIPUPO FAYOSE
Engr. Oladipo Fayose is a seasoned professional with over 10 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry. . . . .
BEN ABRAHAM, Esq
Ben is the Legal Team Lead at ABB LEGAL, a firm of Attorneys, solicitors and Notaries Public. He obtained a Bachelor of . . .
IHUOMA ABRAHAM
Ihuoma heads the Gender arm of Zarephath Aid where she assists to guide women and underage offenders . . .
CHRISTOPHER IYOHA
He is an invaluable asset on the Board of Advisors of ZAREPHATH AID. His sagacity in the Business. . . .
Latest Updates/News
Press Releases, Pro-Bono, Criminal Justuce Focus, Breaking News
