Legal commentator, Confidence Aribibia, has explained why lawyers continue to defend individuals accused of criminal offences, stressing that representing an accused person does not amount to endorsing or supporting the alleged crime.
Aribibia, in a public enlightenment message shared under the platform Legal Talk with Confidence Aribibia, said every person accused of a criminal offence was constitutionally entitled to a fair trial, regardless of public opinion or the seriousness of the allegation.
Citing Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, She noted that an accused person must be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
She argued that the presumption of innocence remained applicable even when members of the public were convinced that the accused had committed the offence.
According to her, the responsibility of a defence lawyer is not to justify criminal conduct but to ensure that the constitutional rights of the accused are protected throughout the judicial process.
She explained that defence lawyers are expected to ensure that the prosecution establishes its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the proceedings comply with the requirements of the law.
Aribibia emphasised that the decision on whether an accused person is guilty rests with the court, not social media users or public opinion.
“Na court get the final say, no be social media,” She stressed, urging Nigerians to understand the distinction between defending an accused person and supporting criminal behaviour.
She further warned against a justice system in which individuals could be condemned simply because the public believed them to be guilty.
According to her, allowing public sentiment to determine criminal guilt could create a dangerous precedent, particularly when innocent individuals find themselves facing similar accusations.
She maintained that the right to legal representation and a fair hearing must be respected irrespective of an accused person’s social status, public perception or the nature of the allegations against them.
Aribibia concluded that the law was designed to protect everyone, including individuals accused of crimes, because the principles of justice and fairness must apply to all.
Her message underscores a fundamental principle of criminal justice: defending an accused person is part of ensuring that the law is properly applied, not a declaration that the person is innocent or an endorsement of the alleged offence.
