States must embrace legal responsibility to safeguard human rights, says Arase

Solomon Arase, the chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), says states must embrace the culture of legal responsibility to safeguard the rights of individuals within their jurisdiction.

In his keynote address during the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day, in Abuja, Arase said the introduction of the Police Duty Solicitor Scheme (PDSS) is a turning point in the nation’s commitment to protecting the rights of people in police custody. 

He said a more comprehensive and integrated approach within and between the states should be introduced, adding that the criminal justice system needs subnationals to foster a “collaboration that transcends regional boundaries”.

“Historically, detainees faced prolonged periods in police facilities without access to legal representation, leading to routine violations of their rights. The PDSS, driven by a commitment to justice, has become a mechanism through which lawyers provide free legal services to detainees across Nigeria, ensuring that their rights are not only protected on paper but upheld in practice,” he said.

“While the success of the PDSS is evident in specific regions, there is a need for widespread replication and adoption. The lessons learned in Anambra, Edo, FCT, and Lagos should serve as a blueprint for other states, fostering a culture of legal responsibility and collaboration that transcends regional boundaries”. 

On his part, Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, represented by Gladys Odigbaro, the director of solicitor at the ministry, commended the PDSS for preventing undue congestion of inmates in correctional facilities across the country.