Plateau State Governor, Barr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to assisting the Legal Aid Council in reforming the administration of criminal justice in the state. This is to enable the less privileged access justice.
Governor Mutfwang stated this on Monday during a courtesy visit on him by the Director General of the Legal Aid Council, Barr. Aliyu Abubakar, and his team at the Government House, Rayfield in Jos.
He noted with sadness, the neglect of the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria, with many individuals languishing in correctional facilities without trial.
He stressed that a progressive society depends greatly on how it treats its indigent members and assured that his administration is committed to ensuring fair treatment and justice for all.
The governor called for enhanced collaboration among critical stakeholders in the state to alleviate prison congestion and ensure access to justice for ordinary citizens. He pledged his administration’s support for the federal government’s efforts in dispensing justice.
He also expressed satisfaction with the federal government’s initiative to construct a new Correctional Centre in Jos East Local Government Area and pledged support for its swift completion.
The Director General of the Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar, acknowledged the significant contributions of Plateau natives to the establishment and evolution of the Legal Aid Council.
He recounted the council’s inception in the early1960s and its formal establishment in 1976 to provide legal assistance, advice, and defense to the impoverished and indigenous individuals lacking means for legal representation.
Abubakar highlighted that the Council aided approximately 2500 individuals between 2021 and 2023 and expressed gratitude to the Plateau State Government for providing office space to facilitate their operations.
He assured continued commitment to the Legal Aid Council’s mandate of ensuring access to justice for the impoverished and less privileged members of the society.
Gyang Bere
Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Executive Governor of Plateau State
18th March, 2024
