The statement, "Despite that there are several communities in Gbaramatu [Kingdom], there is hardly any court of law in the kingdom and this ranges from the Area Courts to other higher courts," highlights the poor state of legal representation in the oil-rich kingdom that is situated in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

This lack of a legal presence is among sundry peculiar challenges that the Gbaramatu Lawyers Association (Gbaramatu Oloutolumo-Abu Gbolei) identified as militating against access to justice in not only the kingdom but other Ijaw creek settlements during its maiden Legal Discuss and Enlightenment Programme themed, 'Access to Legal Aid in Nigeria: A Case for Indigent Persons in Gbaramatu Kingdom', which held at the headquarters of the kingdom, Oporoza, on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

The GLA, made up of Friday Emotimide Esq. (President), Werisinde Timiyan Esq. (Secretary), Frank Emor Ekpemupolo Esq. (Public Relations Officer), Larry Malemi Esq., Linda Wereyesigha Esq., Iyoro-ebi Itima Esq., Preye Minama Esq., Divine Zibinmogha Esq., and Blessing Akuna Esq. are notable sons and daughters of Gbaramatu, who, as lawyers, deemed it fit to change the narrative by taking the bold step to chart a new path in their well-respected profession.

"The Gbaramatu Lawyers Association has since its formation been engaged in providing some form of legal assistance to persons within the Kingdom," said the GLA's President, Emotimide Esq. "However, in recent times, it has been discovered that there is a huge gap between getting legal aid and indigent persons in our communities. This is the gap the Association seeks to cover," the GLA revealed.

Explaining further, the GLA said, "Legal Aid relates to the provision of legal assistance to persons who are unable to afford legal services and access to justice within the justice system. These legal services include legal advice and legal representations before courts, tribunals or other judicial or quasi-judicial bodies.

"The major focus of Legal Aid is often to guarantee access to justice and equality before the law... Thus, with an effective legal aid system, people are able to have their voices heard, exercise their rights, challenge discrimination or hold erring leaders accountable, without the additional burden of having to cough out funds for necessary legal services.

"The above underlines why access to justice must therefore be for all, including members of vulnerable groups in order to have a fair, transparent, effective, non-discriminatory and accountable services to promote justice for all."

In relation to the Gbaramatu area, the Association noted that "there are peculiar circumstances that make getting legal help in our Gbaramatu communities more problematic," and reeled out these to include the lack of awareness and absence of proper legal education, refusal to pursue legal services due to religious reasons, fear of victimization, seeking legal advice from too many sources, lack of value in free legal services, and family ties.

On the general challenges, the GLA cited the limited funding for the Legal Aid Council established to offer legal aid, heavy and elongated bureaucracies in considering applications and request for legal aid, unnecessary technicalities and corruption, infrastructural unavailability in certain localities, the lack of legal awareness and poverty, and illiteracy.

On how the GLA can bridge the gap in offering legal aid, the body of lawyers revealed, "As was earlier explained, the core of legal aid is to ensure that indigent persons have access to justice. Most importantly, justice does not only entail the adjudicatory or judicial process, in fact part of the justice system involves resolving disputes with other mediums which includes: Arbitration, Mediation, Early Neural Evaluation, Conciliation, Negotiation and so on.

"The Gbaramatu Lawyers Association is largely organized to ensure that legal aid services are provided to indigent persons in Gbaramatu communities through the aforementioned dispute resolution mechanisms and then resort to litigation when other mediums fail. The Association also stands as a bridge between the Legal Aid Council and indigent persons in our communities to ensure that our people have access to legal aid."

On those eligible for the legal aid services being offered by the GLA, the body revealed that, "The Legal Aid services provided by the Association is largely for indigent persons who earn below the national minimum wage. However, we are able to offer legal solutions in circumstances of a community or kingdom nature that affects our collective interest as Gbaramatu people.

"We are also able to work through the process of obtaining legal aid with the Legal Aid Council to such other persons in our communities subject to allowable limits," while it also added that "The Association offers both criminal and civil aid in line with the provisions of the Legal Aid Act, 2011."

The GLA further disclosed that those interested in legal aid can reach out to the Association through the contacts of its information officers, in cases of emergency, which are: Barr. Friday Emotimide on 08069609834, 08054580556; and Barr. Werisinde Timiyan on 08063517326, 08179620973.

#penglobalcommunity #Gbaramatu #GLA