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From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) has raised the alarm that no fewer than 140 million Nigerians lack meaningful access to justice.
The Country Representative of HiiL, Dr. Ijeoma Nwafor, who disclosed this in her presentation during the handover of a blueprint action plan tagged ‘Ibi Isadi’ (place of refuge) to the Ogun State government aimed to facilitate seamless access to meaningful justice for the survivors of domestic violence in the state, said 5.1 billion people lack meaningful access to justice, globally.
Speaking further at the handover ceremony held at the Conference Room of Ogun State Ministry of Justice, and attended by the Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of Justice, Health and Women Affairs, at the weekend, she noted that the project represents a shift towards a people-centred justice system that prioritises the needs and dignity of the survivors.
She added that the pilot scheme which is a One-Stop Shop intervention plan, was being handed over alongside a digital Gender-Based Violence (GBV) case management platform, stressing that the people-centred justice initiative is a home-grown concept borne out of the realisation that over 150,000 cases of domestic violence are reported annually in Ogun State.
Dr. Nwafor who disclosed that the ‘Ibi Isadi’ model which commenced in 2020 was aimed at reducing the menace of GBV to the barest minimum, as it afforded victims opportunity to get justice even at no cost, explained that the model represents a new way of thinking about domestic violence response.
She stated that those affected by domestic violence often require coordinated legal, medical and psycho-social support delivered through a seamless and accessible justice system.
Speaking further at the event, which also had in attendance, members of civil society organisations (CSOs), Nwafor charged the state government to own the concept, scale it up and ensure that victims of GBV in rural communities, local government and at the state level have access to meaningful justice without financial burdens.
She, however, lamented that the dearth of enabling environment (laws, funding and policies) had hitherto prevented victims from getting justice in matters of domestic violence.
She further urged the Ogun State government to establish a joint task force at the community, local and state level that would serve the interest of the victims towards ensuring offenders were made to face justice.
Disclosing that ‘Ibi Isadi’ initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) section 16.3, Nwafor revealed that HiiL targeted ensuring 150 million Nigerians have meaningful access to justice by 2030.
In his remarks, Justice O. Ogunfowora, who spoke on behalf of the state government, pledged the judiciary’s unwavering commitment to sustaining and expanding the ‘Ibi Isadi’ initiative, describing the transition as the beginning of a greater responsibility rather than the end of a development project.
Ogunfowora commended HiiL for transforming access to justice in the state through its people-centred justice model, which prioritises the needs of ordinary citizens.
Reflecting on the programme’s inception, he admitted that he had initially been sceptical about HiiL’s intervention, citing previous experiences with short-lived reform initiatives.
Ogunfowora described the initiative as the finest expression of that collaborative philosophy, noting that the project was deliberately given a Yoruba name to reflect local identity and ownership.
According to him, Ogun State is now equipped to drive the vision independently while ensuring that justice services remain accessible, responsive and community-focused.
Calling on all stakeholders to embrace the responsibility of sustaining the initiative, the judge of the State High Court urged government institutions, the judiciary, ministries, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations and traditional rulers to work together beyond institutional boundaries.
He warned against rivalry and competition among agencies, stressing that the interests of vulnerable citizens must always take precedence over institutional recognition.
Earlier in her address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Adebimpe Folusho Obienu, described the initiative as a landmark achievement that marks the beginning of a stronger institutional response to protecting survivors and ensuring easier access to justice across the state.
