Access to Justice through Legal Aid Service in Nigeria

Abstract

The Legal Aid Act No.17, Laws of the Federal of Nigeria, 2011 is an Act promulgated by the National Assembly pursuant to the relevant provision of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to assist the indigent citizens to have access to justice in the courts on some selected matters proceedings as specified in the second schedule to the Act. This paper examines the provisions of the Act, its weaknesses and proffer possible solutions thereto. The paper revealed that the Act does not accord its beneficiaries enough opportunity to prosecute or defend their claims generally because some aspects of daily human activities or rights are left out in the proceedings/matters recognised by the Act.