The Delta Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro has called for special allowances for workers of Legal Aid Council to enable them perform their constitutional responsibilities to the indigent in the society.
Umukoro said this when the Director-General of the council, Mr Aliyu Bagudu Abubakar, visited him on Thursday in Asaba.
The chief judge noted that the poor welfare of lawyers in the council could exposed them to vulnerable situations where the principles and ethics of their profession could be compromised.
He said the special allowances would motivate them to carry out their free legal services with dignity.
He called on the council to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Justice to make adequate budgetary provision for the council.
Umukoro stressed that the role of the council in the administration of justice could not be overemphasised.
READ ALSO: Twitter backs down on ban of French govt’s voter sign-up ads
He acknowledged that lawyers in the council need not pay for filing fees while offering legal services.
Umukoro also observed with dismay that some counsels use the platform of the council to charge litigants legal fees.
He noted that the classification of poor litigants was ambiguous and controversial, which required precise definition.
Earlier, Abubakar said the council’s delegation visited Umukoro to appreciate him and the state’s Ministry of Justice for the numerous assistance to the council.
Abubakar noted that lack of public awareness of the council’s role and other factors had militated against the administration of criminal justice system.
He assured the chief judge that the council would continue to do its best to indigent ones in the society. (NAN)
