The NULAI/OSIWA project has lasted
for a period of seven months. The project started with a series of workshops
which gave an insight as to what the project is a bout. We were taught the
objectives, scope of the project and means by which we can achieve our
objectives. One of our objectives was to create a synergy with stakeholders of
the criminal Justice system which we achieved by making advocacy visits to the
stakeholders. One of my favourite advocacy visits was the one we made to the
director of public prosecutions where we discussed the problems facing the
criminal Justice System in Kwara State, one of which includes the fact that the
ACJA has not adopted and witnesses find it had to give testimonies in court.
Solutions were proffered (such as a Witness Protection Programme) and
recommendations were given. The project took another turn when prison visits started.
It was exciting as the application of the knowledge we gained over the months
began. We met several prisoners individually and in teams. We were taught that
no matter how convincing a prisoner could sound, his story/facts must be
verified.
In the course of the past seven
months, I have learnt several things which include:
1. How to draft several legal
documents e.g motion applications, affidavits and reports.
2. How to counsel clients: we
were taught important clients counselling skills such as asking open ended
questions, avoiding judgemental expressions, informing clients of
confidentiality etc.
3. Team work: several
obligations are allotted to all the members of a team which means that every
member has to work together for the edification and strength of the team.
I have had an amazing
experience so far. This project has opened my eyes to several people whose
rights and freedom of movement and personal liberty have been denied. These
people have been denied justice. Prisoners without diligent lawyers, prisoners
who have served a longer time than they should ordinarily serve if they were
sentenced , prisoners awaiting trial all these people have been denied justice
and these project has made it clearer to me.
I realised that there is a
great need for more interpreters as most of the prisoners/ inmates in Kwara
prisons are Hausa – speaking persons. This a major obstruction and disturbance
to the project. Sometimes we do not interview as many people as we want to
because there are sufficient interpreters.
-Awosusi Tolulope
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