Nation
NGO Assists 273 Inmates Regain Freedom
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Headforth Foundation, has assisted 273 inmates to regain freedom through its pro bono services.
Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs Oluyemi Orija, made the disclosure at the organisation’s third anniversary celebration in Lagos yesterday.
“Today, we have helped 273 persons out of prisons for free, and we are currently handling more than 300 cases in different courts across Nigeria.
“We have a mobile office on a project called Lawyers Without Border, and we have an office at Ebute Meta in Lagos,” Orija said.
According to her, a stand of lawyers without borders has been placed in some designated court premises to offer free legal representation to indigent inmates.
Orija added that sometimes, Magistrates, registers and warders referred some cases to the organisation.
The executive director said that the foundation provided free and easy access to justice to iindigent inmates.
“It means we render free legal representation to them, a lot of them are poor people.
“Some are illiterates who do not even know what they are being charged for, nor understand the Nigerian justice space.
“We are pro bono lawyers, free lawyers, lawyers that provide free legal services, Orija said.
She said that the foundation’s “My Right, My Freedom campaign was aimed to educate members of the public on their rights and conduct before the law.
“We have realised that a lot of these people do not know what their rights are.
“Some people have signed statements at police stations which they did not write, and do not know the contents, they do not know anything about it.
“The law enforcement agents had probably written the statements for them and they just appended their signatures.
“In some cases in the court, some people plead guilty to offences that they did not commit, because a police officer advised them to do so.
She said that the foundation was taking the campaign to all local government areas in the country to educate Nigerians on their fundamental rights and also tell them the avenues to report infringement to their rights.
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on the Management of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to embark on the water projects in Buguma city in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers state
The Group called on the Rivers state government to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
On the water project in Buguma, MOSIEND said the population of Buguma has increased tremendously as the residents need more water projects to enhance the daily livelihood of the people
The Group also appealed to the Chairman of the council to assist in making the project a reality and attracts more developmental projects to the city
This call was on Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Radio program, Talk of the Town, by MOSIEND Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn alongside Mark Ojuka,Chairman of Buguma and Hon Sandra Owunari JP Chairman Obuama and monitored by our correspondent
Comrade Ojuka also called on the Management of Liquidifed Natural Gas NLG to embark on a free medical outreach in all Kala bari communities to improve their health status
He appealed to LNG to award scholarship to indigens of Kalabari communities in tertiary institutions to better their education, noting the company is doing same in Bonny, abandoning Kalabari communities
“We need contracts, free medical, scholarships and employment including skill acquisition programs for our teeming youths in Kalabari extractions ”
On Security, Mark Ojuka said security in Buguma is at zero level with the help of the Ama Ma soldiers the city is more peaceful and investors friendly as the youths of area have cordial relationship with the security agencies in the area
“Security is very secured in Buguma clan”
He called on the Rivers state to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
“The youths are asking for human capacity building in the area to reduce unemployment”
“The revamping of the Buguma fish farm will also reduce youth violence”
Also Speaking, Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn called for more improve in infrastructures in Kalabari community, especially in electricity
There is little improvement in terms of electricity in Buguma city
He decried the deplorable condition
of Buguma Health Centre, saying that the hospital is near functional
“Our sisters that are pregnant and our sick parents can not access the health centre for a better treatment ”
Describing the Health Centre as an eye saw, he called on Rivers state government and Buguma Local Government chairman Hon William to improve on facilities in the centre and make it more medically accessible to the sick persons in the area
Buguma, Tammy Bruce said is the spiritual headquarter of Kalabari people as such deserve more modern facilities from the government to improve lives
The Coordinator called on government, stakeholders and oil companies to assist and improve the poor infrastructural facilities in area
“We need first class hospitals, qualified medical doctors and nurses in the health centres and hospitals”
On the oil spilled in Obuoma Chairman MOSIEND Obuoma, Hon Sandra Owunari said the spill destroyed their crops and Rivers even polluted their only source of drinking water
She expressed displeasure that Rivers state government did not send any relief materials to the people in the affected community
On Chieftaincy title to women in Obuama, Hon Sandra Owunari said the community do not install Chieftaincy title to women, saying that Chieftaincy title is only reserved for men only in the community
CHINEDU WOSU
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