By Chikaodi Chukwuleta
The Chairman, Anambra State Disability Rights Commission (ASDRC), Barr. Chuks Ezewuzie, on Thursday, assured of the commission’s readiness to actualise legal representation of persons living with disabilities in Anambra State.
Disclosing this to journalists during a press pressing in Awka, Barr Ezewuzie said they were already working on cases of discrimination, rape, violation of rights of persons with disabilities in the state.
He mentioned cases of Victor Onwudiegwu, a hearing impaired civil servant from Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area of the state, who was denied drivers licence by Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Philip Nwokedi, a person living with albinism, who escaped ritual killing attempts from a friend at Onitsha Army Barracks, Mrs ifeoma Ejidike, who was reportedly disfigured by her husband’s brother, and a school girl from Enugwu- Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area, who was raped as cases already submitted to the legal team.
The Chairman stated that the Commission wants to actualise the legal representation of persons with disabilities in Anambra State, as powerd by Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (ROLAC), adding that ROLAC has helped in operationalising the Legal Department of the Disablity Rights Commission and even trained lawyers to handle cases on Pro Bono basis for persons with disabilities.
” So if the rights of PWDS are infringed upon, they are now empowered to go to court and seek redress. The lawyers will represent them without a charge.”
He noted that the commission works in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, as well as Centre for Public Defence Office, and that the commission will provide no excuse for those who have legal issues not to seek redress in court in accordance with Section 20 and 23 of Anambra State Law.
He stressed the need for people to know that disability is not vulnerability and is not synonymous to vulnerability, adding that there are so many persons with disabilities who are contributing meaningfully to the GDP of the country, while many are employers of labour and gurus in economic investments. “A lot of people with disabilities are making waves in their various endeavours,” he concluded.
He added that the commission is proposing to visit special education centres and undertake fact finding tours of education centres with disability children.
ROLAC representative, Shedrack Nwekeagu, encouraged the commission to intensify fight for PWDS, adding that the intention was solely to ensure access to justice through them.
Lawyers who were present including Barr. Victor Eze Onwumere, Olivia Uzoma Ezekwe, Barr. Peter Moneke, Barr. Gabriel Ezekwe, and Barr. Nwanna promised to take up legal issues of the victims.
