The Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Federal ACJMC, has introduced a groundbreaking Police Duty Solicitors Scheme (PDSS) in Edo State.
This initiative aims to bolster human rights protections and ensure improved access to justice by deploying attorneys directly within police facilities across the state.
At a two-day capacity-building workshop held in Abuja, Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa, described the PDSS as “a deliberate intervention in the service of justice, institutional accountability, and societal stability.”
He emphasised the importance of legal representation at the point of arrest in maintaining public trust and reinforcing the rule of law.
“The PDSS is a tool to strengthen, not soften, the hand of justice. By embedding legal safeguards at the point of arrest or detention, we are helping the police act within the law and reinforcing public confidence in due process,” Justice Okungbowa asserted.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Samson Osagie, noted that the scheme would prevent prolonged detention and uphold the right to a fair hearing, emphasizing the Ministry’s wholehearted support for this transformative initiative.
Ms. Evbu Igbinedion, Executive Secretary of the Federal ACJMC, lauded Edo State as the pilot location and outlined the broader aim of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act—to ensure a criminal justice system that is both efficient and effective.
Echoing this sentiment, CP Monday Agbonika, Commissioner of Police for Edo State, shared the Inspector General’s endorsement of the scheme and confirmed the full activation of Force Order 20.
He traced the origins of PDSS through the evolution of community policing efforts, including the “Access to Justice” program and the Justice for All Project.
Chief Magistrate Osamudiamen Afe reminded duty solicitors of their ethical obligations—urging them to serve the vulnerable without discrimination, strictly observe the 2023 Rules of Professional Conduct, and never demand fees from PDSS clients.
Nkechi-Gift Enubiaka of UNDP’s Governance Team highlighted PDSS as a core component of the Supporting Police Accountability and Transformation (SPAAT) Programme, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.
She underscored the project’s mission to foster citizen trust in security institutions and ensure everyone has a voice from the moment of detention.
As the pilot phase unfolds, stakeholders remain optimistic that the PDSS will significantly reduce unlawful detentions, prevent rights violations, and promote fairness at the earliest point of a suspect’s contact with the justice system.
