By Haruna Aliyu, Birnin Kebbi

The kebbi state coordinator of legal aid council Barrister Alhassan Salisu Muhammed has said that, no fewer than two thousand indigents and vulnerable persons benefited from legal aid services.

Speaking in Birnin kebbi on Tuesday at his office said that, the mandate of legal aid council is to give free legal services to the accused who cannot afford the services of a legal practioners.

He added that potential beneficiaries of the free legal services include accused poor persons with capital offences and those with minor cases.

According to him the rationale behind that is to ensure every Nigerian gets justice with or without money.

He mentioned that, so far at least 30 Juvenile cases are being handled and defended by the state legal aid council “one of the juvenile crime victim has been freed because his fine was paid, still defending the rest he said.

The legal aid chief stated that mediation and legal advice forms part of their primary function as they can invite parties to broker truce if the need arises, defenceless persons are free to visit their office for free legal services or advice.

Alhassan maintained that, legal aid council is none tribal and none religious their services are free to Igbos, Hausas, Yorubas and any other tribe in kebbi state provided he or she cannot afford a lawyer to defend him in court because its a parastatal under federal ministry of justice therefore is for all Nigerians.

Salisu stressed that, legal aid council is autonomous and has been in existence in kebbi for well over ten years with offices opened in the six geo-political zones,he urged the indigents and vulnerable to approach them for free legal services.