LAW CLINICS AS TOOLS TO TACKLE THE PHENOMENON OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING: THE BAZE UNIVERSITY MIGRATION AND TRAFFICKED PERSONS LAW CLINIC ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

In Nigeria, human trafficking is on the rise at an alarming rate. Most experts have attributed this to the economic hardship faced in the country. Therefore, for the trafficker it is a business, for the victim it is a means to get a better standard of living and even provide financially for loved ones at home. Migration is not illegal but human trafficking is illegal. The reason for its illegality can be found in the manner in which the victim starts their journey and the inhumane situation they end up in. There are a lot of rights being violated and the victim is sometimes denied access to justice for violations of those rights. It is against this background that the law clinic in Baze University, Abuja established a specialized unit called the Migration and trafficked persons Law clinic. One of the purposes of establishing this type of clinic is to contribute in curbing the menace, that is, human trafficking in Nigeria. The research methodology used for this paper is teleological methodology, meaning the paper is based on the experience of a supervisor that helped establish and run the Migration and trafficked law clinic at Baze University. The objective of the clinic, expected outcome and activities the students have been doing or about to do were discussed in this paper. The paper highlights that it is possible to run a clinic online and a specialized unit like the Migration and trafficked persons law clinic can be used as a tool to curb the phenomenon of human trafficking through raising awareness and providing access to justice. Therefore, it made bold to recommend other clinics should have specialized units, highlighting its advantages and also recommend that experiential learning helps to bring out students’ interest and also create a career path for them in the long run.