Lagos State Office of the Public Defender, OPD, is to open a new vista of support, collaboration and cooperation that would enable inmates of Correctional Centres to access OPD’s free and quality legal services more easily.

According to its Director, Olubunmi Adesomoju, it is imperative that there is an increased synergy between the two agencies of government to identify inmates that are in dire need of legal representation.

She said this during a courtesy visit to the Controller of Correctional Service, Lagos Command, Adebisi Adewale at Ikoyi, assuring that the OPD would increase its visits to the Centres with the aim of attending to the legal needs of inmates.

Her words: “It is my belief that this move will enable OPD to continue to offer its free legal services to the inmates in their Court matters in a greater capacity. This initiative is with an overall view to continue to decongest the Correctional Centres in Lagos State”.

In his response, Adewale, agreed that the Command and OPD should increase and strengthen their existing collaborative efforts to decongest the Correctional Centres in the State.

Adewale said many of the inmates lack legal representation and some have overstayed in custody beyond what the Courts would have sentenced them for their offences due to lack of legal representation.

He, therefore, promised to cooperate with OPD in the discharge of the statutory responsibilities of both government bodies.