By Chris Agbo,
The Chief Judge, FCT, Justice Ishaq Usman Bello on Thursday in Abuja promised to create a Disability desk in the FCT High Court.
He made the declaration while making a speech at The Albino Foundation (TAF)’s One- Day Training of Key Officers of the Judiciary, Lawyers and law enforcement agencies on Disability Inclusion and Access to justice system for persons with disabilities In the electoral and political process.
It was a response to the demand made by The CEO of The Albino Foundation, Mr. Jake Epelle during his speech, he read out several challenges of persons with disabilities while trying to access judicial services. The court rooms are not accessible, the wheelchair and crutches users find it extremely difficult to access the court and the deaf persons are having a hard time in the court because the court have failed to recognize that they need sign language interpreters. Meanwhile there are a lot of persons with disabilities who are lawyers and it is difficult for them to fairly represent the clients in the court because the court have totally excluded them structurally and the deaf lawyers are excluded communication wise.
In a chat with TQM, Mr. Jake Epelle said that the essence of the workshop is to sensitize the judicial officers and the law enforcement agencies on the need for Disability Inclusion in their various organizations and also to get the Chief Judge FCT to appoint a Disability desk officer which graciously was achieved and he has also mandate TAF to come and train the officer that would be appointed. He informed TQM that TAF will commence the training next week.
To throw more light on need for a Disability desk officer, Mr. Jake Epelle told TQM a story of deaf lawyer who always paid a sign language interpreter each he is going to represent a client in the court. So if the clients is not willing to bear that extra cost, it will affect the rate at which his services as a lawyer is sorted.
Watch Part 1:
He emphasized the need for a Disability desk officers in all courts and other law enforcement agencies. He gave example with Correctional Centres not having a plan for Disability Inclusion as it was disclosed by one of participants representing Nigerian Correctional Service. So, what is happening to PWDs in Correctional Centres and those who may find themselves there.
He lauded the Chief Judge FCT for accepting to create a Disability desk Office.
He explained that the Disability Desk Officers may be a person with disability or not, what matters is that someone should be saddled with the responsibility of attending to persons with disabilities wherever they are at the hight court to access judicial services. The officer will ensure that adequate provisions are made to guarantee reasonable accommodation for the persons with disabilities irrespective of the type of disability.
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He revealed to TQM that TAF have concluded plans to train all the officers of law enforcement agencies on Disability Inclusion, The DSS, FRSC, Nigeria Police etc in their quest to promote Disability Inclusion across board.
Mr. Theophilus Odaudu, Program Officer, Disability Rights Fund (DRF) speaking to TQM said that the court can support persons with disabilities in so many ways, making their physical environment accessible, providing sign language interpreters for both the litigants and lawyers with disabilities, all court procedures and processes are made accessible. “That’s why I like the idea of having a Disability desk officer in the court so that persons with disabilities can have who they can come on or go whenever they want to access judicial services. The Officer would be there to address the barriers persons with disabilities are facing in accessing court processes” he added.
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He informed that Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 has criminalized discrimination against Persons With Disabilities so PWDs should be able to approach the court to seek redress and it is only possible if there is no barriers for them accessing the court and getting justice.
