The child is young and weak and need special protection. Here, at Absu LawClinic we take the cases of juveniles very seriously. There has been a very serious neglect of the rights of the child in the Judiciary in Nigeria. However, we will tell you of what we've encountered here in Abia State.
The criminal justice system is not fit to meet the special needs of a child and that is what led to the emergence of the Juvenile justice system. Nevertheless, we wonder, if in Nigeria, the system only exists in #print within the limited pages of textbooks.
The rule of confidentiality binds us and courtesy demands that we don't release sensitive information regarding our clients so as not to stir stigma. Notwithstanding, we will tell you his story for it is worth knowing.
We will like you to meet #Undefended. Undefended wasn't born with a silver spoon more less a wooden one. Little wonder he had to join in breadwinning at a really young age alongside his elder brother. At the age of eleven, he had skilfully learnt how to operate a clipper and enrolled as an apprentice in a Barbing Salon. He was fending for himself. However, before Fate could order his steps, the criminal justice system in the state roughened the path. He had just finished cutting the hair of the third customer for the day before he was visited by the Nigerian Police. According to him they inquired into identity of his various customers that day and commented that one of the customers he had worked on some five hours back was an armed robber and part of a notorious gang. The police demanded that undefended should provide them information regarding the location of the suspect claiming that somehow he must be close with him. The young boy who was at the time preparing for his 12th birthday was unable to provide such information. He was undefended, arrested and detained.
The police thereafter deliberately charged him with the offences for which the suspect was being sought. As is their usual practice, the matter was instituted in a magistrate court which lack jurisdiction to handle such matters. At this stage one would naturally think the Juvenile justice system would emerge from dormancy and regulate the situation.
That never happened.
Undefended was remanded in prison custody to share bed with Adult criminals. This was in 2006.
Undefended reached "voting" age (18) in prison. He also reached the common law age of adulthood (21) as a pre-trial detainee. It is important to note here that the police never took any further move to prosecute the matter through out the entire 11-year period within which Undefended remained incarcerated, in wait of a trial that was never going to happen.
Three days ago, on the 26th of January, 2017,Absu Law Clinic perfected the bail bond of Undefended. He is now to be known as #Defended as we pledge to fight his legal battles for him henceforth.
Notwithstanding, we are perturbed in our spirits. Who is to blame?
*The Juvenile justice system which operates in "ghost mode"?,
*or The Ministry of Justice?,
*or The Nigerian Police Force?,
*or The Prison warders who allowed Undefended to grow without hope.?
Yet, our focus isn't towards who it is to blame.... It remains towards "what more we can do to mitigate this hardship". We are only a group of passionate law students operating within Paralegal limitations. We are Absu Law Clinic.
The clinic is open for all.
At the clinic, we render free legal services to those who cannot afford legal representation. We render services like:
*Legal consultation
*Counseling
*Legal advice
*Legal assistance.
Visit Absu Law Clinic for free at Faculty of Law complex, Absu extension in UMUAHIA. (Along umudike road just after government college).
Official hours feature Mondays to Fridays within 8am to 4pm.
Remember, our services are totally free. What have you got to lose.
