By Dada Ahmed.
,,,,,, The case of PDCRC.
No doubt, if there is any date, residents of kogi state, north central Nigeria, especially the disadvantaged, vulnerable and indigent will not forget in a hurry, it is June 3, 2019.
That day,described as historic in the history of ensuring justice to all and sundry in the state,marked the creation of Kogi State Office of the Public Defender and Citizens' Rights Commission,PDCRC.
The state government could not have minced words in establishing the all important commission with a strong mission statement.
The commission's clear cut mission is to ensure "provision of proficient free legal service for indigents, disadvantaged and vulnerable residents of kogi state in accessing justice and protection of their fundamental human rights."
The commission also envisions a state where the Indigent, disadvantaged and vulnerable have unfettered access to justice and protection of their fundamental human rights.
As an agency of the state government,PDCRC also has the mandate to render free legal aid and other related services, including legal representation in criminal and civil cases to its target residents.
The function of the commission also include receiving complaints directly from individuals or by referral government agencies, public instructions and private instructions in the state.
PDCRC is also mandated to investigate complaints or referrals made to it in collaboration with relevant law enforcement agencies and to resolve matters brought before it by way of alternative dispute resolution, ARD,among others.
By 2024,meaning six years into the execution of its vision, mission and functions, how far has the commission been able to carry its activities in consonance with the idea of its establishmentBarr.Musa Idris Onogo
RThe Acting Director General, Kogi State Office of the Public Defender and Citizens’Rights Commission,PDCRC, Barr.Musa Idris Onogo, says the commission has so far provided proficient free legal services to over 200 indigents, disadvantaged and vulnerable residents of the state since its establishment in 2018.
Barr.Onogo, who disclosed this in an interview with the correspondent of The Reporters in Lokoja on Monday, recalled that the commission was established on June 3,2019 as an agency of the state government with the mandate to render free legal aid and other related services to the indigents and vulnerable residents of the state.
These services,he added, include legal representation in criminal and civil cases to the target residents.
The Acting Director General, who said that he took over the mantle of leadership of the commission on February 8,2024 , disclosed that the figure include 15 that received given free legal aid under his leadership, adding that more of such cases were pending in various courts.
Barr.Onogo disclosed that the commission had 12 lawyers providing free legal services to the target residents.
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He identified domestic issues, such as family abandonment,disputes over denial of child paternity,drug related issues among youths and protection of fundamental human rights as the common cases being handled by the commission on private basis.
According to him,the commission planned to open offices in the three senatorial districts of the state to get closer to the residents at the grassroots and to enhance its alternative dispute resolution service to boost effective service delivery.
According to Barr.Onogo, the idea of opening the commission’s offices in the zonal area is provided for under the PDCRC law.
The acting director general advised indigent members of the public and the likes who want had legal issues and want free legal services to contact the organization thus.
“They should use the following phone number ;08037044922,” he said
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