Mrs. Ngozi Adeyemi had not seen her son in four years when she first walked into our Lagos office. Her son, Chukwuemeka, had been detained for 18 months without trial — one of thousands of Nigerians caught in an overwhelmed justice system that often leaves the poor waiting years for hearings that never come.

“I sold my shop. I borrowed from family. I could not afford a lawyer,” she told our team quietly, twisting the hem of her wrapper between her fingers.

Our legal aid team took his case immediately. Within six weeks, our pro-bono partners had reviewed the file, identified procedural violations, and filed for an accelerated hearing. Three months later, Chukwuemeka walked out of detention — charges dismissed for lack of evidence.

“The day I saw him walk through that gate, I could not stand,” Mrs. Adeyemi told us. “My legs just gave out. That is what you people did for us.”

Cases like Chukwuemeka’s are not rare. Our legal aid team handled 847 cases last year alone — and secured release, reduced sentences, or full acquittals in 71% of them.

Every case costs time, expertise, and resources. Your support makes each one possible.