LAC GETS NEW GOVERNING BOARD

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of a new Governing Board the Legal Aid Council. The appointments of the member of the Board took effect from 13^th May 2019 and the Board was inaugurated by the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister on Tuesday, 28^th May, 2019.

The members of the Board are

1. Suraj Sae’da, SAN, Chairman of Governing Board
2. Aliyu Bagudu Abubakar, Director-General and Member
3. F.K. Bebu, Member, Representative of Hon. Attorney General of the Federation
4. Christopher Gabriel, Member, Representative of Federal Ministry of Finance
5. Nayaba Jacob Uwaya, Member, Representative of NYSC
6. Adebola E. Longe PSC, Member, Representative of Inspector General of Police
7. Jonathan Gunu Taidi, Member, Representative of NBA – 1
8. Eno-Obong Akpan, Member, Representative of NBA – 2
9. Muhammed Ayoola Idowu Akande, Member, Representative of NBA – 3
10. Ibrahim Olatoye Lawal, Member, Representative of NBA – 4
11. Princess F. Frank-Chukwani, Member, Representative of FIDA
12. Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu, Member, Representative of NLC
13. Hussaini Zakariyya, Member, Representative of Kebbi State
14. J. Olorunmola, Member Representative of Nigeria Correctional Service
15. Wale Fapohunda, Member, Representative of Ekiti State
16. Saidu Baba Gadam, Member, Representative of NUJ

The Governing Board held its inaugural and 114^th meeting on the 23^rd August 2019. During the meeting, the Chairman, Mr Suraj Sae’da SAN reiterated the commitment of the LAC to justice delivery. He said justice would be delivered by ensuring that the legal aid council gets to the frontline in an effective, efficient and transparent manner.

He said, “I speak the mind of this body. We know our job and it is to give policy direction and ensure that the management carries it to its logical conclusion”.

The Director-General, Mr Aliyu Abubakar in his brief on the activities of the Council, said efforts were being made to deliver on its mandate. “The Council is collaborating with Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative on challenges facing the paralegal scheme in Nigeria. Lawyers who ordinarily would have provided free legal services to our citizens in the local communities are concentrated in the cities. This is thereby creates a gap and makes our people who are poor, geographically isolated, vulnerable to assistance in solving their justice problems.

Meanwhile, in these communities, the people are faced with legal issues. Hence, paralegals have key roles to play towards ameliorating these problems”, Suraj Sae’da said.

The DG further said the Council in its resolve to deliver on its mandate, will organise a retreat for Management, Zonal Directors and State Coordinators to review its past activities to enable it chart a new course for better service delivery in contemporary times with its attendant challenges.