BENIN CITY — The Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Samson Osagie, has called on newly onboarded Police Duty Solicitors to carry out their responsibilities with courage, diligence, and a strong commitment to upholding human rights.
Dr. Osagie made the charge during the opening of a two-day capacity-building programme for the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme (PDSS), held in Benin City.
The programme was organized in collaboration with the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC), the Federal ACJMC, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Highlighting the role of duty solicitors in providing early legal representation for suspects in police custody, Dr. Osagie said that he Scheme is central to preventing unlawful detention and safeguarding fair trial rights.
He emphasized that duty solicitors serve as the first line of defense in the criminal justice process.
As the State’s Chief Law Officer, Dr. Osagie reaffirmed the government’s full support for the Scheme and pledged continued resources to ensure its success.
The event was attended by dignitaries, including the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, representatives of the NBA, and development partners.
