SOCIO-LEGAL BARRIERS TO THE EXPANSION OF LEGAL AID IN NIGERIA: INITIATING LEGAL REFORM THROUGH THE CUSTOMARY COURT SYSTEM OLÚBÙNMI EUNICE ỌNÀFUWÀ Doctor of Philosophy School of Business and Law UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON July 2020 i Abstract The core of this study is directed towards an analysis of the laws, rules and guidelines that embody legal aid provision in present day Nigeria. This study will employ a socio-legal approach to investigate the root causes of Nigeria’s limited legal aid scheme. It will also focus on the relationship between law and society and will employ appropriate empirical research methods for an in-depth understanding of significant causal factors that influence legal aid provision in Nigeria. These factors will include an examination of Nigerian legal institutions, legal processes, and legal behaviour,1 particularly how legal institutions and legal processes affect individuals and how they are perceived by ordinary citizens and potential recipients of legal aid. This research considers the potential for other sources of law, and other legal institutions, such as customary legal systems, to be used as an additional, credible way to access, develop and expand legal aid provision in Nigeria. This study adopts two qualitative techniques: semi-structured telephone interviews and self- administered questionnaires, which were completed and returned via email. The request for respondents was launched on social media. In total, fifteen respondents partook in the study: twelve via self-administered questionnaires and three via telephone interviews. The inquiry was focused on a people’s perspective, the respondents were a variety of ages above 18, and evenly distributed by gender. They were spread across North Central, South West, South East and South South geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Therefore, they are not representative of all the regions in Nigeria; for this reason, the study was not able to capture all ethnic groups and their customary practices. However, within the 15 observations, coverage was obtained from ethnic groups that represent the Yoruba, Igbo, Delta and Kogi regions. Some of the participants were recruited through a snowball sampling strategy by primary participants. Data was analysed, and preliminary codes were established using in vivo coding procedure to categorise findings and generate key themes that could help address the research question and objectives driving the study. Hence, six key themes were uncovered. The findings of the study reveal the various perspectives on the matter of legal aid and of customary legal practice, including the prospect of expanding the scheme through customary legal systems. The research also highlighted the limited scope of legal aid and the importance of custom and tradition in the daily activities of individuals who are bound by them. It also 1Banakar Reza and Travers Max (eds.) (2005) ‘Introduction to Theory and Method in Socio-Legal Research’ Oxford, Hart p. x. ii uncovered the need to develop customary legal systems to further support and protect the rights of individuals that are embedded in their customary practices. This study presents an original contribution to knowledge on access to alternative legal institutions for the protection of legal rights via legal aid. The findings of this thesis also contribute to socio-legal studies, which are not well represented in Nigerian legal research. iii Acknowledgements I give my wholehearted gratitude to God for the grace, direction and wisdom bestowed on me all through this journey. My heart felt gratitude goes to my Director of Studies, Professor Kofi Oteng Kufuor for believing in me. I would not have started nor completed this thesis without your consistent support and encouragement. My sincere gratitude goes to my second supervisor Professor Siraj Sait and various members of the Law and Criminology Department for their support and valuable advice. I am deeply grateful to all participants whose data was utilised for this research, ensuring its success. I wish to acknowledge my family, my loving parents Mr and Chief Mrs Jide Michael Atoye-Akomolede, my brother Babatunde Atoye-Akomolede and my sister Oluwashola Atoye-Akomolede for the endless prayers and words of encouragement. I am profoundly grateful to my children, Emiola, Moshope, Abodunrin and Anjola Onafuwa. Warm gratitude goes to my close friends and collegues, Oluyomi Kebby, Tony Obaye, Christiana Stephens, Taiwo Oderinde and Michael Harrison for always cheering me on. I value all your efforts. iv Dedication This work is dedicated to the four pillars that held me up and kept me going, even when the path seemed hazy; my daughters; Ẹ̀ míọlá, Moshọpẹ́, Abọ́dúnriǹ and Anjọláolúwa Ọnàfuwà. It is also dedicated to my mother Chief Mrs Tóbì Mary Atoye-Akomolede for lighting my way through the darkest tunnels. Thank you for your relentless love and support. I love you to the moon and beyond. v Table of Contents Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………………….ii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... iv Dedication .................................................................................................................................. v Chapter 1: General Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Overview of the Legal Aid Scheme ..................................................................................... 5 1.3 Problem Statement ............................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Research Question ............................................................................................................... 9 1.5 Research Gaps, Aims and Objectives .................................................................................. 9 1.6 Scope of Study ................................................................................................................... 12 1.7 Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 13 1.8 Expected Research Contributions and Ramifications ........................................................ 14 1.9 Research Structure ............................................................................................................. 15 Chapter 2: The Concept of Legal Aid in Nigeria ................................................................ 17 2.1 The Concept of Legal Aid in Nigeria ................................................................................ 17 2. 2 The Nigerian Legal Aid Provision .................................................................................... 18 2.2.1 Statutory Basis for Legal Aid in Nigeria ........................................................................ 19 2.2.2 The Nigerian Legal Aid Decree 1976-2011 .................................................................... 19 2.2.3 Legal Aid Council (LAC) ............................................................................................... 23 2.2.3.1 Statistical Review of Legal Aid Provision in Nigeria 2011-2017……………………25 2.3 Legal Aid via African Regional Human Rights Instruments ............................................. 29 2.3.1 The African Regional Legal System ............................................................................... 30 2.3.2 African (Banjul) Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR 1986) ...................... 31 2.3.3 Historical Background of the Banjul Charter ................................................................. 33 2.3.4 Status and Applicability of the Banjul Charter in Nigerian Domestic Law ................... 34 vi 2.3.5 Article 7(1) of the Banjul Charter in Accessing Legal Aid ............................................ 37 2.3.6 The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Fair Trial Rights, Independence of Courts and the Right to Legal Representaion via Legal Aid ........................ 38 2.4 Supplimentary African Human Rights Instruments: Fair Trial Rights and Legal Aid ...... 45 2.4.1The Resolution on the Right to Recourse and Fair Trial (Tunis Resolution) 1992 ......... 45 2.4.2 The Principles and Guidelines on the Right to Fair Trial and Legal Assisstance in Africa (Dakar Declaration) 2003 ........................................................................................................ 46 2.4.3 Lilongwe Declaration on Accessing Legal Aid in the Criminal Justice System in Africa (2006) ....................................................................................................................................... 47 Chapter 3: Legal Aid: Nigerian Constitutional Review ..................................................... 50 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 50 3.2 Nigerian Constitutional Model .......................................................................................... 51 3.3 Nigerian Constitutional Development (1960-1999) .......................................................... 53 3.4 1960 Nigerian Constitution (Independence Constitution) ................................................ 55 3.4.1 Protection of Fundamental Rights .................................................................................