Legal Defence and Assistance Project LEDAP

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.