The Criminal Justice Department is one of the service departments of the Council. This Department by its schedule is positioned to deliver quality Criminal Defence Services for the purpose of assisting indigent persons involved in criminal investigation or proceedings specified in the Second Schedule of the Legal Aid Act 2011, access to such advice, assistance, and representation as the interest of justice requires. The Department provides legal services in criminal matters through legal practitioners employed by the Council (Legal Aid Officers) and assisted by administrative officers (paralegal/legal aid assistants).

Functions include:

1. The provision of legal assistance to indigent persons in the form of advice, assistance and representation in court in matters of criminal investigation or proceedings in any court or tribunal (whether at first instance or on appeal) wholly or partly in respect of crimes of the following descriptions, or as near to those descriptions as may be, respectively in any Criminal Code or Penal Code: 

      Criminal Code

1. Murder of any Degree.
2. Manslaughter.
3. Maliciously or wilful Grievous Hurt.
4. Assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
5. Common Assault.
6. Affray
7. Stealing
8. Rape
9. Armed Robbery

    Penal Code

1. Culpable Homicide Punishable with Death
2. Culpable Homicide not Punishable with Death
3. Wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm
4. Criminal force occasioning actual bodily harm
5. Common assault
6. Affray
7. Stealing
8. Rape
9. Armed Robbery 

Aiding and abetting, or counseling or procuring the commission of, or being an accessory before or after the fact to, or attempting or conspiring to commit, any of the offenses listed above.

1. Any other duties assigned by the Director-General.

Head of Department – Mr. Abdul fatah Bakre (Director)

Email- info@legalaidcouncil.gov.ng

Phone Number- 08034513338