As part of its mandate to ensure that inmates awaiting trial have access to adequate legal representation, the Lagos State Directorate of Citizens’ Right on Thursday paid a visit to the Badagry Correctional Centre.
The visit was made alongside representatives of the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) and the Community Service Unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
Speaking during the visit, Mrs Oluwatoyin Odusanya, the Director, Directorate for Citizens’ Rights, said the trip was to ensure that awaiting trial inmates received free legal counselling and representation from the state government.
She said that it was also to prevent the unlawful incarceration of children under the age of 18 years.
Odusanya said: “The Lagos State Government is concerned about the high number of awaiting trial inmates in prisons across the state.
“Especially those who have been incarcerated for a long time due to their inability to afford payment for legal representations during court appearances.
“In this regard, the Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration, through the Directorate for Citizens’ Rights, regularly intercedes on behalf of such inmates by providing much needed legal services at zero cost to them, irrespective of tribe, gender or religion.”
Odusanya assured the Badagry prison inmates that the Directorate of Citizens’ Rights would do everything within its power to provide them with adequate legal services.
She also enjoined them to maintain decorum, to be truthful and honest in their responses during appearances in court.
The Directorate had on June 16 and June 18 visited the Ikoyi and Kirikiri Correctional Centres respectively, as part of its quarterly visits to Correctional Centres in Lagos.
Thursday’s trip to Badagry Correctional Centre was a conclusion of the quarterly visits by the Directorate of Citizens’ Rights.
According to the Directorate, over 300 male and female inmates have so far been attended to at Correctional Centres within the state.
Gift items such as antiseptic disinfectant, air freshener, insecticides, toothbrushes, toilet paper, slippers, hand sanitisers, facemasks and other cosmetic items were given to the inmates. (NAN)
