The Legal Aid Council in Nigeria: Challenges and Possible Solutions

Abstract

Justice is the bedrock of peace and tranquillity in every society. Justice cannot be guaranteed when there is no access to court, fair hearing and fundamental rights due to financial constraint. The people of each country have contracted their power to their government to secure their rights and interests. Therefore it is incumbent on the government to strive towards equality before the law. One of the means to secure this is through availing indigent people free legal aid services. In Nigeria, the Legal Aid Council was established to serve the needy. Aside from the government legal aid service, there are several voluntary legal aid services. Despite the services, the bias of the Nigerian legal system to the detriment of the poor people is not quenched. This work then looks at the background of the legal aid service in Nigeria, challenges and the possible solutions to serve as corrective tools for the lacunae in the present legal aid service in the country.