A legal practitioner, Mrs. Dorothy Osuji, has raised concerns that a large number of indigent residents in Edo State are unable to access justice simply because they are unaware that free legal assistance is available to them.
Osuji emphasised the urgent need for intensified public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about existing free legal aid services across the state. She made these remarks during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Monday.
According to her, the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON) provides free legal representation, advice, and mediation services to eligible individuals who cannot afford private legal practitioners. She also noted that the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) offers specialised support to abused women, children, and other vulnerable groups.
“Many people do not know that free legal aid exists. These are recognised institutions, not quacks. Anyone who cannot afford a lawyer should approach them for assistance,” she advised.
Osuji called for sustained public enlightenment programmes to bridge the knowledge gap and ensure more eligible Nigerians benefit from these services.
Her concerns are supported by findings from various justice sector organisations, which indicate that awareness of pro bono and free legal services remains significantly low despite legal provisions. Studies by the Justice Research Institute and the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) reveal that over 60 per cent of surveyed Nigerians were unaware that such services exist.
The knowledge gap is attributed to several factors, including limited public awareness campaigns, the concentration of legal aid offices in urban centres, language barriers, inadequate funding for outreach, and general distrust of the justice system. As a result, many low-income individuals are left without proper legal representation when facing critical challenges.
Some residents who spoke with NAN admitted they had never heard of free legal aid before. Mrs. Iziegbe Aihanuwa shared that she had paid substantial legal fees after purchasing counterfeit products because she was unaware of available assistance. She promised to spread the word to others now that she knows about the services.
Similarly, Mr. Lucky Igbafe stated that he had always paid for legal services due to lack of information. “If it is truly free and available to everyone, then people should know about it. It is our right and we should be able to benefit from it,” he said.
Eligible persons in Edo State can access free legal advice, mediation, and court representation through the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, the Citizens’ Rights Department of the Edo State Ministry of Justice, FIDA, the Nigerian Bar Association (Benin Branch), and the National Human Rights Commission.
Increased awareness and better outreach are expected to help more vulnerable residents access justice without financial burden.