Lagos lawyer seeks more legal assistance for indigent inmates

By Sandra Umeh

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

The lawyer, who is the founder of  Makolo Anthony Empowerment Foundation, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) 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 centres and delay in the dispensation of justice.

Makolo said that his foundation had undertaken to provide free representation for inmates and urged other lawyers to also key 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 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 also urge other legal practitioners to follow suit,” he said.

(NAN)