People of the state have been urged to take advantage of the office of Public Defender and Citizens Right Commission to seek justice and redress of rights infringement.
Director General of the Commission, Barrister Abdullahi Wahab Zakari stated this while featuring on Radio Kogi audience sensitization programme “state of Kogi”.
Yusuf Abubakar idogu reports that Barrister Zakari explained that the Commission which was established by the state house of assembly to cater for the legal needs of the indigent citizens of the state added that Governor Yahaya Bello assented to bill as part of his determination to create an environment that prioritizes the right of the citizenry.
He also noted that the Commission was borne out of the need to guarantee members of the public access to quality legal assistance and the overall protection of the right of the masses .
According to the legal luminary, the present Administration was committed to the smooth and independent running of the Commission, which it has demonstrated by constituting a governing council and an office space to run the affairs of the commission.
The Director General said the Commission has visited prisons to provide legal representation to deserving inmates so as to ensure speedy trials as well as decongestion of prisons.
Barrister Zakari revealed that as part of efforts to ensure topnotch performance, plans are underway to establish offices across the Local Government Areas of the state in order to take legal assistance closer to the grassroots, adding that the Commission will soon roll out hotlines for complainants to reach them on.
When asked how citizens can access the services of the Commission, Barrister Zakari has this to say.
He stressed that citizens will be provided legal services for free and called for cooperation from the public in creating an enabling environment for the commission to operate.