Gov. Fashola tasks lawyers to utilize Public Interest Law Partnership Programme

The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has urged legal practitioners in the state to utilize the Public Interest Partnership Office in the state, which according to him enables free legal services to members of the public.

Speaking at a Special service to mark the opening of the 2013/2014 New Legal Year in Lagos, the Governor who was represented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaiye, announced that the Public Interest Law Partnership office located in the State Ministry of Justice has aided 100 litigants. Those, who ordinarily would not have had access to justice because they lack the funds to hire lawyers to defend them.

He encouraged lawyers who are yet to enlist on the programme to do so and ensure that they support the programme by assisting the less privileged with their time and experience – stating that there is nothing comparable to when a lawyer readily gives assistance to a man who may have been incarcerated unjustly for an offence that he might not have committed.

Further, explaining the significance of the solemn commencement of each legal year with prayers, Governor Fashola, stated that the practice could be traced to the fact that all the spheres of the law such as judiciary, legislature, executives and the statutes are all aimed at justice and that justice is an attribute of God.