By Adebisi Onanuga

Over 15,000 cases have been found to be  pending due to unprofessional practices of prosecutors in Lagos State.

This was the core of findings of the Legal Advisory Committee inaugurated in January by the Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), to look into the rights of the police in prosecuting criminal cases at Magistrate Courts.

Presenting the report, Chairman of the committee, Fola Arthur-Worrey, said the committee reviewed the competence of the non-lawyers in the prosecution of criminal cases in Magistrate courts.

He disclosed that stakeholders involved in prosecution matters were also engaged in the review to achieve a balance and accurate report.

He praised the Attorney-General for the support given the committee throughout the course of the review and selection of the committee members who ensured a successful review.

Receiving the report, Onigbanjo said the outcome of the committee’s review will be analysed and announced to the general public at due time.

He said the advisory committee was given a one-month deadline to review the Police Prosecution power and provide recommendations accordingly.

The Attorney-General commended the committee’s timely intervention and selfless service to actualise the set goals of the review.

He stated that the recommendations presented by the committee will aid the state government plan to bring substantial change to the administration of justice in Lagos State.

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The Attorney-General said the outcome of the committee’s review will be analysed and announced to the general public at due time.

The seven-member Advisory Committee included: Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey – Chairman, Mr. Norrison Quakers, SAN – Member, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey (Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice) – Member, Mr. Yhaqub Oshoala (Director, Public Prosecutions) – Member, DSP- Yetunde Cardoso, O/C Legal Dept, Criminal Investigation, Yaba, Lagos. – Member, Mr. Bayo Akinlade, NBA Ikorodu Chairman- Member. Mrs. Rukayat Owolabi – Member and Mrs. Arinola Momoh-Ayokanmbi – Secretary.

It would be recalled that the committee as part of its engagement with all spectrum of society in the state, about three weeks ago held a Public  Stakeholders Meeting at Ikeja, where senior members of the Nigerian Bar Association,(NBA) which included Mr Femi Falana(SAN), Dr Muiz Banire(SAN) and others, made important contributions and recommendations to the committee.

Other stakeholders at the meeting included representatives of the State Judiciary, Police, Legal Aid Association and local government branches of the NBA.