A new Governing Board has been inaugurated for the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria. The inauguration took place on 5th August 2026 at the Federal Ministry of Justice Headquarters, Abuja.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in his speech, urged the new Board to provide policy direction that will strengthen the Council’s mandate of providing free legal aid services to indigent Nigerians.
He stated that the inauguration of the Governing Board was in line with Part 1 of the Legal Aid Act 2011, which sets out the composition of a diverse Governing Board made up of the Chairman and members.
He noted that the inauguration was also in line with the reforms of the Federal Ministry of Justice and the administration of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu geared towards strengthening citizens rights and deepening access to justice for the poor in Nigeria. He linked the Legal Aid Council’s work directly to the Federal Government’s legal reform agenda, saying reforms were aimed at building a justice system that is more efficient, transparent, accountable and people-centred.
He further stated that the Legal Aid Council serves as the moral compass of the Nigerian Justice system and the Council also ensures that poverty is never a bar to justice. He added that
access to justice is not a luxury, it is a prerequisite for national security, public trust and socioeconomic harmony.
The Attorney-General expressed confidence in the leadership of the Board Chairman, retired Justice Sulyman Durosinloun Kawu, OFR, a former Chief Judge of Kwara State, saying his judicial experience and administrative competence would provide the strategic direction needed to strengthen the Legal Aid Council.
Fagbemi directed the Board to provide strategic policy leadership that would enable the Council’s management to strengthen operational initiatives such as the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme (PDSS) and the Court Duty Solicitors Scheme (CDSS), both designed to ensure suspects obtain legal representation at the earliest stages of arrest and prosecution.
In his acceptance speech, the new Board Chairman, Hon. Justice Sulayman Durosinloun Kawu OFR, CFR (Rtd), assured the Honourable Attorney General that he would focus on expanding the Legal Aid Council to all nooks and crannies of Nigeria, as well as enhance staff welfare.
In his closing remarks, the Director General of the Legal Aid Council Aliyu Bagudu Abubakar thanked the Honourable Attorney General for his kind gesture and efforts in securing an upward review of the Council's overhead, which he said had never happened under any previous administration.
The Inaugural Meeting of the Governing Board will hold on Thursday 6th August 2026.
Members of the newly inaugurated Governing Board of the Council are:
1. Hon. Justice Sulayman Durosinloun Kawu, CK (Rtd) - Chairman
2. Aliyu Bagudu Abubakar - DG/Member
3. Roseline Tasha - Member Rep of HAGF
4. Paul Ogbu, Esq - Member Rep of Fed Min of Finance
5. Christopher U. Ogar, Esq - Member
6. CC Godwin Okosun - Member Rep of NCS
7. Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, FNIM, FCIArb.(UK) - Gen Sec Rep of NBA - 1
8. Dr. Chinedu Obienu - Member Rep of NBA -2
9. Dawud Sulayman Esq - Member Rep of NBA - 3
10. Junaidu Abubakar Esq - Member Rep of NBA - 4
11. Amina Suzanah Agbaje Esq - Rep of FIDA
12. Comrade (Dr) Makolo Hassan - Member Rep of NLC
13. Amb. Anthony N. Alonwu - Member Foreign Affairs
14. Olubunmi Adenike Adesomoju Esq - Member Rep of Lagos State
15. Bassey Otop Esq - Member Rep of Cross River State
16. Ogechi Chinyere Ogu Esq - Member Rep of CSO (PAR-RVP Initiative)
17. Mr Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi - Member Rep of NUJ
