Group Launches Free Legal Services for Vulnerable People in Kano

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

A group of young lawyers known as ‘Call a Lawyer Initiative’ has launched pro bono legal services for vulnerable, indigent, and marginalised persons who cannot afford legal representation in the state.

Speaking at the launching ceremony in Kano yesterday, the Executive Director of the group, Ekpa Stanley, said the group operates through three pillars of pro bono legal representation, human rights laws awareness, and a release and employ scheme.

According to him, Call a Lawyer Initiative has launched a Human Rights Community Meeting series to localise the relevance and observance of human rights laws in local communities across Nigerian states.

He said: “We dedicated ourselves to promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice. The meeting is designed to enlighten local communities on relevant human rights laws in local languages and dialects in our communities.

“We want to take the knowledge of human rights laws to local communities for the actualisation of the SDGs agenda 16, to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

“Our organisation has interpreted the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and other relevant human rights laws into many local languages and dialects in Nigeria.

“We have interpreted human rights laws in Nigeria into Nigerian local languages, and partnered relevant stakeholders like the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), local branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigerian Police, Legal Aid Council, and many others.”

He further explained that the organisation has concluded arrangements to facilitate the release of some convicted inmates with the option to pay a fine but cannot afford the fine option at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Kano.

During the meeting, participants were given the ‘Call a Lawyer’ unique phone number for citizens and people of Kano State in any case of their human rights abuse, violation, or infringement where they cannot afford legal representation.