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Legal Defence and Assistance Project LEDAP

Lagos, Nigeria

Grants

2023 (2 years)
$1,100,000

Established in 1997, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) is a nonprofit organization with over two decades of experience in promoting and protecting human rights and the rule of law, strengthening the administration of criminal justice, and tracking corruption in Nigeria. The previous award to LEDAP enabled the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and equivalent state laws (ACJLs) by conducting in-person and online training through continuing legal education programs for lawyers and state chapters of the Nigerian Bar Association. This final legacy award to LEDAP helps to deepen, consolidate, and institutionalize its ACJA work. LEDAP establishes an e-learning center to strengthen the skills of investigators and prosecutors at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Academy. It also sustains its continuing legal education skill building program for young lawyers and criminal defense prosecutors on the ACJA through the Nigerian Bar Association’s Continuing Legal Education platform. In addition, LEDAP produces criminal defense practice guides for lawyers on the 21 Minimum Standards of the ACJA and ACJLs. It also facilitates information sharing and peer learning among criminal justice practitioners and institutionalizes the criminal justice reform agenda to promote accountability beyond the On Nigeria program. LEDAP coordinates the implementation of the project with the criminal justice cohort and other Foundation grantees. This award is part of a package of three legacy grants to the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, JURITRUST, and LEDAP, contributing to On Nigeria’s criminal justice strategy that seeks to institutionalize ACJA, ACJL, and Anti-Corruption Agencies’ tools and methods that will sustain criminal justice reform long after On Nigeria exits the field.

2023 ( 7 months)
$50,000

The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) is a nonprofit organization with over two decades of experience in promoting and protecting human rights and the rule of law, strengthening the administration of criminal justice, and tracking corruption in Nigeria. LEDAP works on the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and equivalent state laws (ACJLs) by conducting in-person and online training through continuing legal education programs for lawyers and state chapters of the Nigerian Bar Association. With this X-Grant, LEDAP monitors the 2023 election tribunal proceedings to determine compliance with the provisions of the ACJA/L and other complementary laws. LEDAP selects election tribunal observers; develops an election tribunal observatory dashboard; publishes a performance assessment report of the 2023 election tribunals; and collates, compiles, and publishes the judgments and rulings of the tribunals.

2020 (2 years 11 months)
$1,200,000

Established in 1997, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) is a nonprofit organization with over two decades of experience in promoting and protecting human rights and the rule of law, strengthening the administration of criminal justice, and tracking corruption in Nigeria. A previous award to LEDAP enabled the adoption, monitoring, technical assistance, and implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and complementary anti-corruption laws in 12 states across Nigeria. With renewed support, LEDAP aims to implement and institutionalize the ACJA by developing a mandatory continuing legal education curriculum and platform on the Act for 150 chapters of the Nigerian Bar Association; building the capacity of prosecutors at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate and prosecute corruption cases using the core provisions of the ACJA; tracking and supporting implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJL) in 13 states; supporting state-level enforcement of Freedom of Information laws to advance anti-corruption efforts in six states (Ogun, Yobe, Anambra, Rivers, Plateau, and Adamawa); supporting the enforcement of the provisions in the ACJA that promote gender equity and protection of social minorities; and creating knowledge-exchange and learning opportunities for prosecutors, investigators, and criminal-court officials. This award is part of a package of six grants contributing to On Nigeria’s criminal justice strategy that seeks to strengthen and deepen the legal framework for prosecuting criminal cases through implementation of the ACJA and ACJL.

2020 ( 8 months)
$50,000

Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) is a nonprofit organization working to promote and protect human rights, the rule of law, and good governance in Nigeria. The proposed project supports the justice system to provide access to justice in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic, reduces undue incarceration, and assists the most vulnerable criminal suspects and pre-trial prisoners to get access to justice. The project also demands safe protection of detention places from COVID-19; documents and disseminates information on violations of human rights during the lockdown; and demands redress for victims.

2018 (2 years)
$623,000

Founded in 1997, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) is a not-for-profit organization with over two decades of experience in promoting and protecting human rights, the rule of law, and good governance in Nigeria. With this award, LEDAP is partnering with six state governments (Delta, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Rivers, and Yobe) to strengthen capacity to implement core provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). LEDAP is coordinating with other Foundation grantees working in criminal justice reform. The award aligns with the objectives articulated in the On Nigeria criminal justice strategy, which seeks to strengthen the legal framework for prosecuting corruption cases under the ACJA.

2016 (3 years)
$400,000

Founded in 1997, Legal Defense and Assistance Project (LEDAP) is a non-governmental organization with almost two decades of experience promoting and protecting human rights, the rule of law, and good governance in Nigeria. With this award, LEDAP is facilitating and supporting state level implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in at least four states. LEDAP is convening meetings of state Attorney Generals, Solicitor Generals, and Directors of Public Prosecutors; providing technical assistance in the states to legislative officers and civil society groups to promote implementation of the Act; supporting state agencies to effectively implement the Act; and monitoring, documenting, and sharing experiences among states. The project is expected to contribute to the implementation of the ACJA in at least four states, improve the speedy dispensation of justice, and enhance the anti-corruption agenda of the new administration.

2014 (2 years)
$250,000

Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) was founded in 1997 as a non-governmental organization for the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law, and good governance in Nigeria. The Foundation’s grant will (a) challenge the legality of Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2014, (b) improve the technical competence of prosecutors to handle atrocity crimes and other serious organised crimes, and (c) improve coordination and cooperation among agencies of criminal justice administration.

2011 (2 years 3 months)
$450,000

A two-year grant in the sum of $450,000 is awarded to the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) in support of activities to promote and improve coordination among criminal justice institutions in Nigeria and to facilitate the development of a national policy and strategy on prosecution of crimes in Nigeria. This is expected to reduce the length of pre-trial detention, as well as the number of pre-trial detainees which presently constitute about 70 percent of the total prison population in Nigeria. The grant will also facilitate robust engagement of civil society groups with criminal justice institutions to ensure compliance with established guidelines, policies, and principles.

2008 (1 year)
$500,000

To establish and operate a Law and Human Rights Resource Centre in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja for the purposes of conducting research and training on the rule of law and justice administration.

2007 (3 years)
$450,000

To strengthen and reform the administration of criminal justice in six states in Nigeria (over three years).

2004 (3 years)
$350,000

For a project to train state prosecutors as a means of improving the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria (over three years).

2001 (3 years)
$300,000

To train state prosecutors as a means of improving the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria (over three years).