The women at Iponri market, Lagos State have been trained on rights to demand free bail as contained in the criminal justice law of the state.
Felicitas Aigbogun-Brai, representative for the Executive Director while speaking at the Community Awareness Programme for Market community in Iponri, said their focus is on creating awareness on the right of women to stand bail and act as surety.
Aigbogun-Brai, added that this law is a Lagos State law and therefore advised that citizens should know the law, be respectful, insist that bail is free and call their lawyer.
“They don’t need to know the technicalities of the law, just know that the law or ACJL says bail is free. Number two is to be respectful because we know our history with police abuse. Don’t offer money and call your lawyer. If you don’t have one, call legal aid counsel, they provide free legal services,” she explained.
She advised that in cases where lawyers and/ or law enforcement agencies extract money from culprits or offenders, such officers or lawyers be reported to NBA or police force so the matter can be investigated and appropriate redress sought.
However, Chineme Obeta-Irewole, Founder, Build and Empower Children with Disability Foundation, said the advocacy empowers them to know their rights as women and especially for those living with disability, making it difficult for people to infringe on their rights.
“We are also here to know the disability rights and to educate other people on their rights too,” she stated.
Mrs Oshodi Lawal, a market woman, recounted how she went to the police station for the sake of her daughter and insisted on free bail because she knew her rights.
