NAME: ASIPA ITUNU
BAMIDELE
LEVEL: 300 LEVEL
EMAIL ADDRESS: BAMMYRUTH@GMAIL.COM
UNILORIN LAW CLINIC
The NULAI/OSIWA
project offered me a great opportunity which would have been regretted if
missed. I learnt a lot during the course of this project, starting with the
workshops on how to access an online database, how to interview detainees, how
to draft a bail application and lot more. This has helped enhance my computer
proficiency and knowledge of how corporate offices work.
Our advocacy visits
to the office of the Directors of Public Prosecutions and also to the Attorney general
of Kwara state among other stakeholders in the criminal justice system were
rare privileges. I would say a lot was gained and I learnt immensely about the
administration of criminal justice system beyond what we are being taught in
the classroom.
On a Monday morning was the visitation to Mandala medium
security facility, which was my first prison visit. The visitation was with
other participants of the project and also the clinic manager. A lot of thought
came through my mind as I walked through the prison gate, i was enveloped with
the fear of going into a prison and meeting dangerous people for few hours like
the perception held by many on the streets and depicted in movies. I always
thought that the prison was home for convicts most especially those guilty of
capital offences but I got to find out that some of them are just victims of
circumstances. I dare say I had a change of perception and for that I’m
grateful.
My partner and I interviewed a detainee who was being
charged with cultism, he claimed he only went to repair his phone and was
arrested with some others at a computer village, his bail was refused by the
court due to conditions unknown to him and he pleaded to be represented by the
legal aid clinic because according to him, his lawyer was not diligent enough.
Some other detainees were interviewed and it was so sad that their access to
justice is being stifled because most of them has no legal representation. However,
some challenges were faced during the course of the interview, some were
illiterates, and talking to them was a bit difficult, although interpreters
were later provided but it took extra time, some have spent months, even years
and had forgotten what brought them to the prison, some were scared that the
legal aid clinic is associated with the police and is after interrogating them
even after assuring them confidentiality but all these challenges faced were
conquered.
I would say this project is indeed needed to criminal
justice system to fast-track trials, facilitate access to justice to prisoners
with or without means, obtain and maintain an efficient data for proper
planning, and provide practical learning experience for law students.
I believe things could be improved if there are more
available pro bono lawyers who would represent the detainees.
Wow...inspiring
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