STRIVING FOR A BETTER JUSTICE SYSTEM
The
fight for a better justice system in our country, Nigeria is not a new
story or course but the struggles faced each day are sometimes new.
My
experience thus far in the OSIWA PRISON PRE-TRIAL DETENTION PROJECT is
beyond the words of "striving for a better justice system" to the actual
fight.
Being a Law Clinician has broadened my mindset and
perception as to our justice system in Nigeria and has tilted my course
for the better as to my studies of the Law and my drive for being a
lawyer.
When the initiative of the OSIWA
PRISON PRE-TRIAL DETENTION PROJECT was shared to us (clinicians) in my
law faculty, I saw the great need of being a part of the project, the
desires and yearnings to do better than what we were into in the clinic
was aroused.
Starting from the advocacy visits
paid to the stakeholders, I knew I had geared up into a whole new
battle ground when it comes to the development and betterment of our
justice system.
THE EXPERIENCE WAS SIGNIFICANT
TO ME. This was because from the interactions we had with the
stakeholders, my perception of the Nigeria Justice system was deeply
broadened and some of the flaws were revealed to me.
At
first, it was the Attorney General's office, this was actually my first
time of being there, so the project actually exposed me to new sectors
when it comes to the administration of justice system in Nigeria.
Though,
we were not able to meet the A.G, the solicitor General hosted us well
and when we shared our mission to him, how we hoped to decongest the
prisons and offer free legal services to indigent persons by providing
them with legal representation, he was really excited about the passion
and the drive of the students. He welcomed the vision with open arms.
SOME OF THE UNDERLYING ISSUES I OBSERVED HOWEVER, WERE;
1. Nigeria's slow pace in development,
2. Lack of boldness to initiate developmental strategies, and
3. Refusal to embark on unaccustomed developmental strategies.
While,
we were at the Solicitor General's office, after enlightening him on
the aim of the visit, we went further to discuss our vision as a state
law clinic to be able to handle matters in a large extent in law courts,
the ability to be able to appear before a judge. He without hesitation
gave his full support, however his support was solely based on the fact
that this initiative is already being implemented in the eastern part of
the country.
Surprisingly, on our visit to the Chief Judge of
the state, though he was fully In support of the OSIWA PRISON PRE-TRIAL
DETENTION PROJECT, the vision of the Law Clinic as to student lawyers
was in no way welcomed or appreciated, reason being that He wasn't aware
of such practices.
MY PARTICIPATION INFLUENCED MY PERCEPTION;
because I've always had the dream of being a law reformer and an
activist, suggesting and pioneering ways of development by affecting the
legal paradigm of the society.
The idea of
having senior clinicians (precisely final year law students) is not far
fetched because these students are somewhat grounded in every area of
the Law.
Frankly speaking, getting lawyers who are willing to
offer Pro Bono services is not always easy because the norm is to render
services and get paid but when these students inculcate such habits
even at their prime stage of being called to the Bar, they get familiar
with the practice of the law and the continuous need for it such upon
their call to Bar, the pace has already been set by them and Pro Bono
works won't be a new thing to them.
To add it, apart from the
exposure it gives them, it also adds to their knowledge and improves
their practical skills. So there's a hundred percent guarantee that
great lawyers are being raised.
WHAT I'VE
LEARNT FROM THE EXPERIENCE: The project has really been an eye opener,
not only from my interactions with the stakeholders or prison officers
but also with the detainees.
Getting to know why some of them
committed the crimes or what made them who they are today, I came to
the conclusion that there are no bad people in this world, all that we
have are people with the wrong mentality. All of which was actually
influenced by various factors, political, social, economic, etc.
When
the right systems are in place in a given society, when the economy of
that society is not suffocating and the citizenry are being provided
with the basic amenities. Crimes tend to be at a minimal.
This is because majority of defaulters act or omit to act due to a negativing influence and not always because they felt like.
HOW DID THE THINGS I OBSERVED MADE ME FEEL?
Honestly,
I felt bad but I also saw the need for a better enlightenment and
orientation of the stakeholders of the Nigeria Justice System as to the
need for the development and betterment of our Justice System because it
is apparent that we have so many people working with the mentality of
maintaining status quo.
We must take the bull by the horn and ensure the last hope of the common man is not just a theory but actually the truth.
Tsalla Emmanuel
Nasarawa State University, Law Clinic.
Thank you !
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