CJ Assures On Legal Aid Council

Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Iche Ndu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the state judiciary to encourage the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria in the discharge of its functions.

Justice Ndu gave the assurance last Thursday when a delegation of the council led by its Director General, Dr. Joy Bob-Manuel paid him a courtesy call in Port Harcourt.

He enjoined them to be more effective in the discharge of their duties to enable the judiciary feel the impact of the establishment advising that they should take their work seriously.

He advised lawyers representing the council not to go outside their scope of work as contained in the second schedule of the Act concerning armed robbery, rape, manslaughter, murder and general assault among others.

The state Chief Judge assured the body of his readiness to carry them along in the scheme of things, promising to provide an office space for the council.

Earlier in her address, the Director General of the council, Dr. Joy Bob-Manuel had said that the visit was designed to appraise him with the problems and strengths of the council.

Dr. Bob-Manuel pledged that the council would work with the judiciary to give hope to the poor and solicited their cooperation to achieve result.

He appealed for the elimination of fees for filing of cases for lawyers of the council.