Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem has given an account of his ministry’s achievement in the last one year in commemoration of the third anniversary of the Akinwunmi Ambode administration. ADEBISI ONANUGA was there.
Last Thursday, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, like other ministries in the state, marked the third anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration and the 50th since the state was created.
The event, which held at the Bagauda Kalto Press Centre, Secretariat Alausa, Ikeja, brought together all heads of the agencies under the ministry and other stakeholders.
At the event were the Attorney-General Adeniji Kazeem, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary Mrs Funlola Odunlami, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information Mr Idowu Ajanaku, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mrs Kofowora Awobamise.
According Kazeem, Ministry of Justice plays a very significant role in the administration’s vision of managing Lagos as a mega city which rests on the tripod of security, infrastructure and poverty alleviation through effective administration of justice and upholding of the rule of law.
Evans case
One of the ministry’s major feats between last May and April, under review, according to Kazeem, was the notable case of the alleged notorious and billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans, and his some members of his gang.
The case is one of the 1,180 criminal duplicate files received through its Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from the Nigeria Police Force, out of which 1,178 legal advice have been issued while two are pending because of further investigation.
The offences range from homicide, robbery, sexual offences to fatal motor accident.
Evans and some members of his gang had been arraigned in different courts for offences including kidnapping of several victims at various periods, and for alleged murder and attempted murder.
Kazeem said the defence counsel filed several applications at different courts most of which have been dismissed, clearing the coast for the prosecution of Evans and accomplices.
DPP
Kazeem said the DPP was engaged in ad-hoc roles to assist the state in prosecution and delivery of justice to the public. It set up a Legal Advice Review Unit to review Legal Advice issued by the Directorate where the need arises.
It also established a Crime Data Register to assist and enable the directorate monitor cases between the Police Force, Prisons and the Ministry.
In addition, a case tracking team was set up to update cases being prosecuted by the directorate and which enables the state to solve the problem of prison congestion.
Sexual offences unit
Kazeem said the Sexual Offence Unit was created by the ministry to monitor the prosecution of sexual offences.
Its first recorded judgment in the sexual offences Court was against Gabriel Obinna & two others, where one of the defendants pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement upon arraignment and was sentenced to 60 years imprisonment by Justice Sybil Nwaka.
Also, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) has galvanised strategic actions and responded appropriately to formal and informal reporting of incidents of rape, defilement, domestic violence, child abuse, neglect and maltreatment in the State.
“To date, the DSVRT has received a total number of 138 cases in this regard. Overall, a total number of 1771 cases were reported during the period under review,” he said.
He said that the team also provided free medical services and psycho-social therapy for over 700 survivors of domestic/sexual violence, conducted capacity building trainings with 220 police officers across the state, and successfully secured the conviction of seven perpetrators.
The ministry noted an increase in report of domestic abuse against men as more victims are coming out and making disclosures.
DNA centre
The Attorney-General recalled that the DNA and Serology sections of the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Center (LSD&FC) were commissioned by Governor Ambode last September to enhance public safety and support criminal investigations.
The centre, he said, performs DNA and serology testing services to support the Nigerian Police, lawyers and domestic violence and sexual assault response teams.
“Since the commissioning, a total of 316 inquiries have been received. The Center currently has over 71 active cases bothering on homicide, rape, toxicology, child trafficking, serology amongst others,” he said.
He said the state DNA Database (LSDD) and the Lagos State DNA Index System (LSDIS) have been established.
This database, Kazeem said, would allow the curation and storage of authorised DNA profiles for use in fighting crime and criminal investigations.
To ensure that LSD&FC is fully leveraged by all stakeholders, specialized enlightenment and training programs have been organized for Judges, Police, Lawyers and Emergency Responders”.
He said following the successful completion of the first phase of the DNA centre, the state approved the establishment of the Forensic Toxicology/Chemistry, General Administration and Perimeter Security Enhancement as Phase 2 of the project.
This phase, he said, will involve: Development and operationalisation of the Toxicology and Chemistry disciplines at LSD&FC; hardening of the perimeter security to protect personnel and evidence; establishment of the Centre administration.
He said this new project will expand the ability of LSD&FC to support the police and other stakeholders ways.
According to him, toxicology section would allow the testing of human specimens (blood, urine, saliva, tissue, among others) to check for chemicals, poisons and toxins that may be harmful or responsible for death while the Chemistry section would allow the testing of suspicious and controlled substances recovered from individuals or from crime scenes among others.
Mediation centre
Kazeem said within the period under review, a total number of 47, 292 new cases were filed at the Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC).
The centre promotes the use and practice of mediation as an alternative to litigation in conflict resolution. Its services include matters relating to landlord/tenant issues, employers/employees disputes, family matters (including marital disputes, child custody among others. Others are property inheritance and land matters, monetary claims, local disputes and commercial laws.
The Attorney-General disclosed that 25, 191 cases have been resolved with rest at various stages of resolution. He put total value of settlement of debt related matters achieved by the centre during the period under review as settlement between parties was N1,352,745, 391.
Civil litigation
According to Kazeem, the Justice ministry through its Directorate of Civil Litigation (DCL) recorded a total number of 61 concluded cases out of which 38 rulings and judgements were delivered while 23 matters were struck out in favour of the State.
He cited the case of National Inland Waterways vs Lagos State Government & others delivered on July 18, 2017 where the Court of Appeal held that the Lagos State House of Assembly is competent to make laws in respect of intra-inland waterways in Lagos State as one of such landmark civil cases delivered in favour of the State in the period under review.
OPD
Kazeem said the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) received 4,282 petitions, concluded 2,264 while the others are at various stages of review, investigation and conclusion. He said the office through its efforts received the sum of N5,669,927.06 on behalf of the complainants/petitioners.
He said the OPD also took up various cases, including those of 77 inmates at Badagry Prison, 104 inmates at Kirikiri Prison and 81 inmates at Ikoyi Prisons, while five children who were discovered in Ikoyi Prison were transferred to appropriate Homes and eventually released from custody.
While the department, to further facilitate easy access to Justice, has continued to firm out pro bono matters to private chambers and legal practitioners under the Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership (LPILP) program.
Citizens rights
Kazeem said the Directorate of Citizen’s Rights (DCR) received a total of 1,308 petitions out of which 1,070 have been resolved with 228 at various stages of resolution. While the Human Rights Protection Unit of the directorate treated a total number of 3,418. He said the figure encompasses cases treated at the taskforce unit, Human Rights Violation, and such other matters that affected the integrity and dignity of person’s resident in Lagos State.
He said the Directorate also settled disputes on marital issues, domestic violence, maintenance and inheritance of property through mediation. He said 150 of such matters were received out of which 132 were resolved and 18 matters are at different stages of conclusion.
Advice Centre
The Public Advice Centre (PAC) received and treated a total number of 50,829 petitions during the period under review from residents in distress seeking advice and help on various issues varying from violation of human rights, child abuse, work benefits and pension, social welfare and child rights, inadequate security, domestic violence, kidnapping, environmental and related matter., among other landmark feats.
Kazeem said the ministry launched an E-Real Estate Litigation Database, www.lagoslispendens.com.ng to enhance due diligence in property transactions in the State.
The first of its kind in Nigeria, the E-Real Estate Litigation Database provides ease of access to information to anyone who wants to deal in a property with information primarily on whether the property is subject of litigation.
Mobile Court
The Special Offences (Mobile) Court began operations in March 2016, with several offenders arraigned and prosecuted. The court has also embarked on series of enlightenment campaigns to make residents aware of the need to obey traffic rules and keep the environment safe and secure.
The state has also handed over 750,000 criminal suspect forms to the Police Command. This was aimed at bringing about ease of justice delivery and aid in quick record keeping of criminals in the State.
Kazeem assured residents Ambode’s commitment towards the attainment of effective justice delivery, security and good governance in the state.
