Persons with intellectualdisability and access to justice in Nigeria : challenges and the way forward

In conservative terms, there are approximately about 2 million persons in Nigeriawho may be referred to as persons with intellectual disabilities. These persons sufferfrom several challenges ranging from economic to non-inclusion in the society. Inthis paper, the discussion focuses on persons with intellectual disabilities and theeffective access to justice as a fundamental right. The paper finds that even thoughNigeria has adopted and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights ofPersons with Disabilities, the Federal Government of Nigeria has not been proactivein supporting the persons with disabilities in the country to enjoy these rights.Furthermore, despite the provision in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republicof Nigeria to ensure freedom from discrimination, there is no direct effect onprocedure to ensure that the rights of the disabled persons are protected. The paperproposes for a framework for the protection of the person with intellectual disabilitywhich includes legal protection, legal awareness, legal aid, adjudication and for civilsociety oversight of the access of persons with intellectual disabilities to justice