Title: Legal Aid and Right to Justice

Pages: 42 Author: Hanbal A. Muhammad Zubair LLB, BL (Islamic and Common Law)         Reviewer: Adelanwa Bamgboye                      The book is dedicated to all those who stand firmly as witnesses to Almighty God against injustice, oppression and all forms of arbitrariness by powerful individuals, organizations and the State. Specifically, to the weak and indigent people […]

Pages: 42

Author: Hanbal A. Muhammad Zubair LLB, BL (Islamic and Common Law)   
    
Reviewer: Adelanwa Bamgboye       
             
The book is dedicated to all those who stand firmly as witnesses to Almighty God against injustice, oppression and all forms of arbitrariness by powerful individuals, organizations and the State.
Specifically, to the weak and indigent people of the world majority of whom will inherit the paradise.
Likes of late Chief Chimezie Ikeazor (SAN), late Chief Debo Akande (SAN), late Chief Solomon D. Lar all of blessed memory and all legal aid officers (lawyers for the poor)
The forward was written by Justice Wasiu Oladejo Akanbi, of the High Court, Ilesa.
‘Legal Aid and Right to Justice’ has been written at a time when the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACN) is celebrating 40 anniversary of its operation.
Throughout the book, the author in clear terms expressed his abhorrence for injustice in the society and the incessant arrests, intimidation, harassment and detention which are the lot of those standing up to oppression in the society. He quoted copiously from the Holy Qur’an to drive home his point.
In the introductory pages, the author recalled what he termed “the evil of military junta” in the late 1980s that ignited his strong desire to confront the monster of injustice.
The book is divided into 11 chapters, starting with chapter one: ‘At the Beginning’. In this chapter, the author demonstrated his mastery of Islamic and Common Law (Combined Law) as he speaks about concepts of truthfulness, trustworthiness, morals and justice as core values upon which any society aiming to rise among nations should lay the structures of its social and economic life.
In chapters two and three, he went into the historical lane to discuss the origin of modern legal aid/public defender and its advent in Nigeria, which he linked to the civil war which took place between 1966 and 1970.
“The civil war like all other forms of social upheavals was not without a backlash. The Igbo of South-eastern Nigeria who were the major actors in the war were equally the foremost victims of the effect as many of them lived in other parts of Nigeria. Prior to the hostility they had to migrate to their region. As a result, they left behind both their movable and immovable properties, especially in major commercial towns like Port Harcourt (Rivers State), Lagos, Kaduna, and Jos (Plateau State).”
Aside the challenges of arbitrary takeover of their abandoned properties, some of them were equally detained across prison locations for different offences.
Succour, according to the author, came their way when two young men- Chief Chimezie Ikeazor (SAN), late Chief Debo Akande (SAN),  who had completed their law programme in England returned to the country. 
It was the duo that stood against the injustice directed at the so-called non-indigenes by providing pro-bono (free legal) service ) to many. The duo and Chief Solomon Lar were among the few unsung heroes of the war. This movement, according to the author, metamorphosed into the Legal Aid Association of Nigeria. They later sold the idea of establishing a Legal Aid Council to the then Head of State, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. This culminated into the birth of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, which is also the first public defender in Nigeria.
In chapter four, the author highlighted the relationship between the rule of law and legal aid. He did this conveniently when he married legal aid with the concept of equality before the law as well as the right to a fair trial
The benefit of legal aid scheme discussed in chapter five includes – security , safeguarding the rule of law, goodwill and affirmation of right to dignity.
Chapters six, seven and eight link legal aid to the vulnerable groups, including the internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees and people with disabilities in their quest to have access to justice.
Chapters nine and ten identify the challenges confronting legal aid and proffers some solutions.
The book ended with a poser in chapter 11 as to whether the legal aid is supporting crime or justice.
The author concluded with usually asked questions and answers about the Legal Aid Council.
In recent times, this is the best book I have read on the topic because of its deep historical insight.
The price of the book is not known but the special feature is the fact that it is written by a lawyer but devoid of legal jargons. The book will come in handy to Nigerians who desire to have in-depth knowledge about the Legal Aid Council in Nigeria.