Pro bono Legal Services

Hello friends, I have been silent lately because I have some health challenges but a lot better now after discahrged from hospital, kindly help to comment on the first interview.

Lots of Love.

Succor for Indigent People

Seated at the entrance of the open office are indigent people who are seeking free legal services, they watch just like a chick in the presence of a hawk, wishing a hunter comes around for an everlasting separation. One thing was certain; they were waiting to claim back their “rights”.

Ushered into her office where there were other legal luminaries attending to these set of people, with a perfect smile followed by complimentary did we start the discussion. Olubusayo is a Lawyer who works in an institution that provides free legal services for indigent people. My first encounter with her was a case of a sixteen year old girl that was repeatedly raped by a twenty six year old business man, the innocent girl wanted to rest her case in the hand of God the silent judge. Olubusayo invited her over to be schooled and at the end of the day, the victim decided to see the rich spare parts dealer in jail.

Her choice of profession according to her arose out of her passion, according to her “profession that I know has a direct impact on people’s lives. It brings smiles to the faces of people seeking justice’ this she passionately pursue. The lawyer says, education, protection of children, maintenance of clean, healthy and beautiful environment are on her priority list.

On her table is a case of “a child that was sexually abused by her father” and the only impact she want this to have is “deterrent to men who sexually abuse children. Their children and other peoples’ children” but most of her defilement cases “are yet to be accomplished as they are still undergoing trial at the Courts while the compensation cases have given her much joy for its accomplishment. The rabbit fell from a mahogany tree, it looked left and right and said if you did not praise me I praise myself, with the cumbersome nature of Nigeria cases an accomplishment calls for celebration.

She has handled cases such as defilement, compensation, enforcement of fundamental human rights cases but the felt bad “about a case of a ten year old child who was allegedly defiled by a neighbor. The parents of the child alleged that the same neighbor had defiled the child’s twin sister but the parents had forgiven the neighbor after incessant pleas from the neighbor’s relatives and so they did not lay a complaint against the neighbor until he stuck again and this time a complaint was made against him. This goes to show that such assailants will continue until they are duly prosecuted. I felt really bad because I could not understand why a man will cause a family so much pain”

To Kushimo Olubusayo, the laws are adequate presently while we work with what we have on ground, she explained that “the problem we have is with the implementation of the of these laws. Where there is no avenue for proper implementation, then the laws are useless, it is in my view that we should first work with what we have, implement them, and make better laws to or develop already existing laws when the need arises. But if we do not even use what we have then what is the guarantee that we would take the trouble to implement more rounded laws. Like the African saying goes, “a bird in hand is better than two in the bush”

There are already existing laws, this she reiterated “the Child Right Act and the Domestic Violence Law which safeguards women and children” these should be implemented “ the government should also needs to provide resources that will enable the smooth implementation of the Laws e.g. provision of welfare packages such as rehabilitation homes, schools for children who are placed under the protective custody of the government or selected guardians. In addition, the government and all stakeholders should also sensitize the Nation about the existence of these laws.”

The existence of laws has not really affected challenges at prosecution of sexual violence according to Olubusayo “the issue of poverty comes to play. A lot of times parents of victims refuse to prosecute assailants when these assailants give them a sum of money to buy their silence not taking into consideration the effect of the attack on the child. Secondly, parents of victims refuse to speak out against assailants due to the fear of stigmatization or isolation by their community or society. Lack of adequate knowledge of measures to take after an attack of rape

Challenges of sexual assault cases in Nigeria include reporting the offence before two months, corroboration by two or three witnesses etc, but to the Lawyer, proper protocol will assist in effective service “a victim or parent must know if the victim is too young to understand, when she is raped, she is not to destroy the evidence of scratch marks, bites, semen, blood stain etc that may have resulted from the attack. She is not expected to take bath though the temptation to do so is great, as this will destroy evidence which will be useful in prosecuting the assailant in Court. Victim of rape is to be taken to the police station to lay a compliant against the assailant. The police are expected to refer the child to a hospital particularly government hospital and in ideal cases, accompany such child and parent to hospital. However, this is to be done in good time to enable the child to be tested by a qualified Doctor who determines the exact position and place the child on medication to prevent infections or illnesses. The police will then institute proceedings against the man in court and reports from the police and Doctor will prove useful in court”.

To be remembered as one who “impacted people positively, cared for people and made things better and more conducive for them” is Olubusayo’s dream as she believes that “good” is the only word that can describe her person. ratify

This article is part of a writing assignment for Voices of Our Future, which is providing rigorous web 2.0 and new media training for 31 emerging women leaders. We are speaking out for social change from some of the most unheard from corners of the world. Meet Us.