23/05/2026
ZAREPHATH AID PARTNERS WITH LEGAL AID COUNCIL, NGOs AND LAWYERS TO PUSH FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
The promotion and observance of Human rights, child welfare and awareness was at the centre of discourse during a gathering of lawyers, legal aid service providers and NGOs in Lagos State. The event which held on Wednesday 20th May 2026 was a sensitization and legal aid program organized by the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria in conjunction with the Child-to-child network and the Human Rights Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association Surulere Branch with support from International IDEA. At the event, Human Rights stakeholders participated in a sensitization and awareness road show that took them to various locations in the Surulere area of Lagos State while also engaging in legal aid clinic. A key feature of the gathering saw participants drawn from different parts of Lagos State benefit from legal counselling provided by lawyers at the event. Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Director of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Mrs Akingbade welcomed the participants and groups who turned up for the event. She highlighted the success which came about as a result of the synergy among NGOs, the Bar and her Organization. Earlier, a representative of International IDEA, Mr Moses explained the idea behind the partnership between his Organization and NGOs noting that the overarching need to defend human rights was at the centre of their choices. He noted that many Organizations had benefitted from their partnership while promising to strengthen it. The representative of the Child-to-Child Network/CPN Margaret Nkire lent her voice to the call for greater vigilance amongst NGOs. She further emphasised the reason behind the sensitization program noting that the support of International IDEA was acknowledged. The host, NBA Surulere Human Rights Committee used the occasion to charge the participants to make use of the knowledge and information imparted during the event. The Branch Vice Chairman/Chair of the Human Rights Committee Mr Henry Ezeanyim acknowledged all the groups and Organizations who worked toward the success of the event. The only paper delivered during the program focused on Sexual and Gender based violence (SGBV). Presenting the paper, Mr Ben Abraham Vice Chairman of the Human Rights Committee and Founder of Zarephath Aid shed light on the vast legal provisions that deal with SGBV in Lagos State. Some of the participants who spoke to our correspondent, expressed appreciation for the clinic while asking for more periodic engagements.
Police have been tasked with the protection and observance of human rights at all times. This was contained in a charge made at the Divisional Police Station (DPO) Isolo-Okota, Lagos State by the Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association Surulere Branch Mr Henry Obinna Ezeanyim when members of the committee conducted a visit to assess compliance with human rights standards specifically the constitutional detention limit, state of the holding cells, the prohibition of torture, and the availability of legal counsel for suspects in custody under the Police Duty gSolicitor Scheme (PDSS). The visit held on Tuesday 22nd April 2026. The Committee was received by the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) DSP Funke Daniel in the absence of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and provided a briefing on the Station's current operations. She highlighted the Division’s challenges which included lack of logistics to ferry suspects to court lamenting that they use hired commercial tricycle for the purpose. Furthermore, the DCO stated that the Human Rights Desk Officer was transferred out of the Station early 2025. In a reply to a question by the Vice Chairman of the Committee Ben Abraham about the Human Rights Desk, the DCO stated that no Police Officer has shown interest in taking up the Human Rights Desk role since the last one was transferred. She added that trainings on Human rights are done by the Command noting that the structure is such that they have to take instructions from the Command. On the issue of PDSS, the DCO expressed ignorance of the Force Order 20, a legal instrument that birthed the work of Duty Solicitors in Police Stations all over the country. She however noted that Chief Magistrates do perform oversight functions in the station monthly pursuant to Section 283 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State 2021 and Section 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. The Committee noted that only two names were displayed on the Crime Board. In reply the DCO stated that the crime rate was not as high as in other places further adding that their officers also endeavoured to settle many cases before the stages of detention and arraignment. The Committee interacted with some of the officers during the visit. On the area of highlighted challenges, the Committee Chairman promised to take them up with the authorities stressing that the promotion and defence of human rights was a collaborative one. In conclusion, the DCO showed the Committee around the Station.
