In addition, it must be noted that the means test is not the final criteria determining whether an applicant qualifies for legal aid, as the Constitution requires that applicants should be assisted if they cannot afford the cost of their own legal representation and will suffer substantial injustice in absence of legal aid.
In this regard, we must warn though that whether this discretion is to be exercised in favour of those who would hopefully stand accused in the near future based on a proper investigation to the allegations and revelations before the state capture commission is something that will have to be carefully considered.
We cannot allow that those who have plundered the fiscus and in the process nearly brought our country to a fall to now come and plead that they should not pay for their own defence because the costs are so high. I thank you.