A legal practitioner, Mr Simon Abel, says the high cost of accessing justice in Nigeria has forced many low-income earners to abandon legitimate claims.
Abel disclosed this in an interview on Thursday in Abuja.
He said accessing justice went beyond paying lawyers’ fees, as litigants also incurred expenses for court filing, preparation and service of court processes, transportation and obtaining documents.
According to him, prolonged court proceedings, repeated appearances and frequent adjournments further increased the financial burden, particularly when disputes involved relatively small sums of money.
He said many Nigerians consequently abandoned legitimate claims, tolerated injustice or resorted to informal dispute resolution, even when formal legal remedies were necessary.
“For instance, a low-income earner whose salary is barely sufficient to meet basic needs may be unable to afford legal representation in a land dispute, an employment matter or a case involving the violation of his/her fundamental rights.
“So, while lawyers are entitled to reasonable fees based on complexity and time required, the economic reality of many Nigerians makes adequate representation difficult,” he said.
Abel, however, said legal services were not entirely out of reach for low-income earners, noting that the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, established under the Legal Aid Act 2011, provides free legal assistance to eligible indigent citizens.
He also identified pro bono services offered by lawyers, university law clinics and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including mediation, arbitration and conciliation, promoted by the Federal Ministry of Justice, as available options.
He noted that the availability and effectiveness of these alternatives varied across states.
The legal practitioner called on the government to strengthen funding for legal aid institutions, expand their reach, promote pro bono services and intensify public awareness of available free legal assistance.
He also urged courts to adopt efficient case management systems to minimise unnecessary delays and expenses while encouraging alternative dispute resolution where appropriate.
“Justice is not necessarily unavailable to the average Nigerian, but the cost of obtaining it makes it practically difficult.
“A legal system cannot fully achieve its purpose if citizens possess rights in theory but lack the financial means to enforce them.
“Making legal services affordable and accessible is essential to upholding the rule of law, equality before the law and public confidence in the judiciary,” he said.
