by Chris Agbo
Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) with the support of Disability Rights Fund on Thursday, 12th September, 2019 hold a press conference in Abuja with the theme (Advocacy for Accessibility of the Justice Administration System To Persons with Disabilities.
Association of Lawyers with disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) as the name implies is an association of Lawyers with disabilities whose major aim is to advocate for a better society for all persons with disabilities. Engaging the stakeholders in justice administration system in Nigeria particularly the judiciary and police to enhance access to their facilities by PWDs which will improve access to justice by Nigerians with disabilities. ALDIN dedicates to assist persons with disabilities get justice whenever they are discriminated up or if their rights are violated.
The president of ALDIN, Barrister Daniel Onwe speaking on behalf of the association, expressed his displeasure towards the unfortunate irony that the justice administration system in Nigeria particularly the judiciary and police do not contemplate the existence of PWDs. He explained that the court environment in Nigeria were designed without the consideration of persons with disabilities. The court buildings are characterized with upstairs with no ramps and elevators and the resultant effect is that when the right of a person with disability is violated and he or she is to seek justice in the law court, the court will be no go area because he or she can’t access the court rooms, no sign language interpreter  to accommodate the deaf in our courts. There are absent of braille materials or other assistive facilities for the blind in our courts. Facilities to cater for the peculiarities of persons with psycho-social disabilities are also absent.
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It is the same case with the police, the architectural setting of most police stations in Nigeria tells PWDs that they are not welcome. The deaf are on their own whenever they are at the police station to file complaints, there is no sign language interpretation. No access for the crutches and wheelchair users. Persons with psycho-social disabilities are treated as laughing stocks when they are at the police stations to lodge complaints.
It is disheartening that lawyers with disabilities whose their livelihood depends on engaging with justice administration system found it very difficult to access the courts, in some cases, lawyers on crutches and wheelchairs are dehumanized to the extent that they will crawl in all four or carried like little babies before they can access the courts. A situation which hampers their dignity and affect their career progression because not every client would engage the services of a lawyer who will crawl or carried into the courtroom.
He expressed worry about the discrimination PWDs face in employment opportunity and even when they get job, they are not treated equally like others. The propagation of the rights of 27 million Nigerians with disabilities largely depends on the Lawyers with disabilities and if lawyers with disabilities cannot access the justice administration system, imagine the fate of other persons with disabilities.
He calls on Federal Government to show commitment as a matter of urgency, set up the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities to spearhead the implementation of the Discrimination against persons with disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 which makes access to public buildings for PWDs mandatory and prohibits discrimination, in any form, against persons with disabilities.
ALDIN beckons on the chief Justice of Nigeria, President of the court of Appeal and the Chief Judges of the Federal High Court across all the states and FCT to make courtrooms and their environment accessible because access to the courts is the right of every Nigerian including People with disabilities.
In the same vein, ALDIN calls on the Inspector General of Police and the Commander-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp to make their stations, offices as well as their procedures accessible to PWDs.
ALDIN frowns at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for playing the ostrich and urge them to take their rightful place in championing the cause of PWDs and other downtrodden.
Barrister Daniel Hinted that ALDIN in the course of carrying out this project shall be collaborating with the Nigerian judiciary and the Nigerian Police as well as other relevant stakeholders. There will be training programmes for government agencies, corporate bodies in this subject matter in line with disability laws in the states and the Federation.
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He urges Nigerians to joins hands with ALDIN to make our entire society inclusive for persons with disabilities which is not just for the good of PWDs alone but it will foster the development of our country Nigeria.
ALDIN while responding to some questions raised by the media promised to fight for justice for every person with disability, they urge PWDs to come forward and report their cases to the association whenever the rights is being violated.
Theophilus Adudu of Disability Rights Fund (DRF) in his message urge organization of persons with disabilities to always apply whenever DRF call for application because DRF is open to support organization to carry out their objectives. He commended the ALDIN for reaching out to DRF to support this project and he promised ALDIN that DRF will always be there to support them in the course of carrying this project.
Prince Paul Adelabu, the Chairman, Board of Trustees JONAPWD in his goodwill message praised the ALDIN for the role their members played in drafting of the Disability Right Bill, now the Disability Right Act. He informed the public that ALDIN have fought many battles and won and he urged ALDIN to continue with the work they are doing.
The press conference witnessed the participation of the Executives and members of ALDIN, other persons with disabilities drawn from different clusters of disability and notable print and electronic media houses.
The highlight of the event is the unveiling of the project IEC materials which was done by the ALDIN President, Barrister Daniel Onwe. IEC materials were displaced in the presence of the media, posters and stickers with different message inscribed on them for awareness creation on the project.
In Qualitative magazine, we wish ALDIN well on this project and as a media outfit dedicated to advocate for rights of persons with disabilities, we will collaborate with them to ensure that the objectives of this project are met.
HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT:
