Legal Aid
ZA commenced operations in 2004 with a Correction Centers Reform Project (CCRP) Kirikiri Magistrate Court. Under the CCRP, we work to bring true reforms in the Correction centers and the Criminal Justice Administration system in Nigeria and beyond using a three-pronged action point, viz.:
Under the Legal Aid action point, ZA through its Legal Unit and with the help of volunteer lawyers offers free legal services to victims of rights violations and injustice in the Correction centers and Police cells. It also provides protection, reporting, enforcement and monitoring services while networking and engaging in advocacy for legislative reform of the justice system.
Over the space of 17 years, more than 1000 inmates of correction centers in Lagos and Ogun States and various police cells have benefited and currently benefiting from the Legal Aid services. Many more have been empowered with the knowledge of their rights. From experience, the majority of the inmates of Nigerian prisons come from poor backgrounds. Even in instances, where ZA secures some relief legally for the inmates, most of their relations do not show up to take home the inmates owing to poverty. In this condition, it becomes impossible to afford fees for professional services of a lawyer. This is again where ZA’s services come to help. In addition to this is the fact in some cases, the inmates are detained on trumped up charges without trial.
Free legal services to inmates have also proved to prevent vengeful disposition on the part of the inmates when they are released. Obviously reeling under the weight of rejection and abandonment by friends, family and society, there is the strong tendency and indeed some occurrence of taking out on the society in the bid to revenge. However, with the free legal services, a break is achieved and the beneficiaries go on in life believing that someone cares.