Ondo Attorney General urges residents to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution, seek legal representation at OPD, ‎



‎The Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, OON, SAN, says the Ondo State Ministry of Justice has been garvernized and repositioned to serve the people of the state through the Office of The Public Defender and the Alternative Dispute Resolution method.
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‎The Commissioner, while addressing top management staff and Legal Officers of the ministry in his office, said the ministry is set to provides essential public services by ensuring access to justice, upholding the rule of law, and offering free legal support for members of the public.
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‎He said through the Office of The Public Defender (OPD), the ministry is providing free, quality legal representation to indigent individuals in criminal and sometimes civil cases, and ensuring constitutional rights to counsel and a fair hearing .
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‎"The State government through the Office of the Public Defender provides legal representation for indigent defendants in cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies like armed robbery or murder, while also handling civil matters such as landlord-tenant disputes, debt recovery, and labor issues. This we do at no cost  for members of the public to enable them have access to fair hearing"
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‎The Commissioner added that through the Office of The Public Defender the state government provides free services for members of the public who can not afford the services of private lawyers during litigations.
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‎The State Attorney General explained that the State Governor,  Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has fortified the Office of the Public Defender in State to enable it play critical roles in the criminal justice system by ensuring that all defendants, regardless of their financial means, have unhindered access to legal representation.
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‎"What we do at Office  the Public Defender also include representing clients in filing and defending appeals across various court levels, as well providing legal aid for matters including child custody, maintenance, domestic violence protection, and juvenile justice. All these we do at no cost" he said.
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‎Also, Dr. Ajulo explained that the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) department of the ministry offers methods of resolving conflicts outside the the court, like mediation, arbitration, and negotiation, providing faster, cheaper, and more flexible solutions than traditional litigation.
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‎According to him, the Alternative Dispute Resolution department often act as a neutral third party helping both litigant and defendant to reach a mutually agreeable or binding decision through mediation, arbitration and negotiation.
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‎While enjoining members of the public to embrace the Alternative Dispute Resolution method, the Attorney General said the method is less expensive with quicker resolution than going through traditional lengthy court process.
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‎The Commissioner explained that the Alternative Dispute Resolution Department of the ministry helps in protecting the Fundamental
‎Human Rights of members of the public by fighting against unlawful arrest, detention, and other violations of constitutional rights, and also conduct regular exercises to review cases of long-term detainees who may have been forgotten or held without trial.
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‎According to him, proceedings at the Alternative Dispute Resolution are usually private, unlike public court records, while parties often retain control over the outcome, leading to more satisfying, customized solutions that can help maintain or improve relationships, especially in family or business disputes.
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‎Dr. Ajulo applauded the State Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for standing in defence of human rights and ensuring effective justice administration in the state and applauded the resilience, commitment and expertise of members of staff of the ministry, even in the face of challenges.
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‎He expressed the state government's unwavering committed to ensuring that the fundamental rights of all law-abiding residents in the state are adequately protected, irrespective of financial or social status.

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