FIC Report (Lagos State) – The National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) in collaboration with the Lagos State Bureau of the Public Defender (BPD) has commenced a five-day intensive training programme for BPD law officers. The training, which began on Monday, September 22, and is scheduled to conclude on Friday, September 26, 2025, is being held at the BPD Headquarters in Surulere, Lagos.
The capacity-building initiative is designed to enhance the core competency of BPD lawyers in trial advocacy, effective communication, forensic analysis, and evidence handling. According to reports, the programme features a dynamic mix of interactive workshops, mock trials, lectures, and hands-on simulations led by 11 expert facilitators from Colorado, USA.
Speaking at the opening of the training, Mrs. Olubunmi Adesomoju, Director of the Bureau of the Public Defender, underscored the importance of continuous legal training in delivering quality public defence services. “This training is a vital step toward ensuring that BPD lawyers continue to offer top-tier legal defence,” Mrs. Adesomoju stated. She further emphasised, “With increasing complexity in criminal cases and the growing importance of forensic evidence, public defenders must stay ahead through ongoing skills development.”
Hon. Ann Claire Williams, Retired Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and leader of the facilitating team, spoke about the strategic approach to trial advocacy promoted by the programme. “We have been training members of the OPD, now known as BPD, since 2016. The essence was to present evidence in court as persuasively and efficiently as possible – to organise arguments and trials in a way that makes it easier for judges to follow testimonies and reach informed decisions,” Judge Williams noted.
Judge Williams added that the training reinforces the importance of “learning by doing,” providing BPD lawyers with opportunities to apply their knowledge through courtroom simulations and receive real-time feedback. “Our goal is to ensure that every public defender has the confidence, skills, and tools necessary to advocate fearlessly and effectively in defence of justice. We are proud to continue this partnership with the BPD in Lagos,” she said.
The training is part of NITA’s efforts to provide premier trial advocacy training, offering career-enhancing courses globally. The collaboration between NITA and BPD reflects a commitment to strengthening legal capacities in Lagos State and enhancing public defence services.
Signed
IYEDEH Onowouzou David
ACIO
FIC, Lagos
23/09/2025
