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Tag: Mr. Adeniji Kazeem

  • Kidnapping: Evans‘ll not escape Justice, Lagos assures

    The Lagos State Government on Wednesday assured that no effort would be spared in ensuring the logical conclusion of the cases filed in court against kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans.

    Evans, who was arrested at his mansion in Magodo area of Lagos last year, is being prosecuted by the State Government in court alongside others for masterminding and executing series of high profile kidnappings and murder in the State.

    The State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, who said this at the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa as part of activities marking the third year anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration, said the State Government was committed to ensure the logical conclusion of all pending cases in court and serve justice to the people.

    “On the Evans’ matter, the cases filed against him are ongoing in court. The issue is that the lawyer representing him is trying to play some games to delay the matter but in all his games, we have been defeating him in court.

    “We have filed different cases. Some are for kidnapping and some bordered on murder and his lawyer is fighting all the cases but what I can assure the people is that we are committed to ensure the matter is concluded and defeat him at the end of the day,” Kazeem said.

    While reeling out activities of the agencies under the Ministry in the last one year, the Attorney General said the State Government received and treated a total number of 11,451 cases through the Special Task Force Against Land Grabbers, Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) and the Special Offences (Mobile) Court in the last one year.

    He said the government also received 316 inquiries through the recently unveiled first state-owned DNA and Forensic Centre with 71 active cases currently ongoing bordering on homicide, rape, toxicology, child trafficking, serology, among others.

    According to Kazeem, the Anti-Land Grabbers Task Force designed by the present administration to fight the menace of forceful take-over of properties received 1300 petitions out of which 855 were concluded and 530 currently at various stages of resolution.

    “In the period under review, over 35 arrests of suspected notorious land grabbers were effected while 26 criminal prosecution cases against suspected land grabbers are presently ongoing,” the Attorney General said.

    Besides, the Attorney General said in a bid to enhance due diligence in property transaction, the State Government introduced the Real Estate Electronic Litigation Database designed for the provision of access to information primarily on properties which are subject of litigation, adding that since its launch, the portal has recorded over 1,000,000 hits and over 10,000 consistent users from Nigeria, United States, United Kingdom, South Africa and others.

    He recalled that since its inception, the DSVRT had galvanized strategic action and responded appropriately to formal and informal reporting of incidents of rape, defilement, domestic violence, child abuse, neglect and maltreatment in the State through the active support of the Governor and other partners.

    “The Ministry has noted an increase in report of domestic abuse against men. To date, the DSVRT has received a total number of 131 cases in this regard. Overall, a total number of 1771 cases were reported during the period under review. 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,” he said.

    He added that through the Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC), the State Government received a total number of 47,292 new cases free of charge out of which 25,191 were resolved with others at various stages of resolution.

    “The total value of settlement of debt related matters achieved by the Centre during the period under review from May 2017 to April 2018 as settlement between parties was N1,352,745,391,” the Atoorney General said, among other achievements by the State Government in the justice sector.

    Speaking on Hotel and Restaurant Consumption (Fiscalization) Regulations 2018, Kazeem clarified that it was neither a new law nor an additional tax, but a regulation aimed at ensuring that government gets due revenue.

    “It is a regulation and not a new law. It was made pursuant to an existing law that was already in operation. What this regulation essentially seeks to do is to allow the government to put certain equipment in the restaurant and hospitality organizations to properly monitor the revenue that is coming so we can know what exactly is due to the State Government.

    “It is not an additional tax; it is just to enhance transparency in collection of taxes that are due to the State. So, I want to clarify that carefully,” Kazeem said.

    On other high profile cases, he said it was gratifying to report that the cases were progressing in court, saying the Synagogue Church case for instance on the collapsed building which killed people was progressing well, adding that a no case submission filed by the accused persons instead of defending the case was recently dismissed by the Court, while the General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Reverend King who is presently on death roll imposed by the court would have his fate determined in due course.

    Read Also: Evans: Lagos court to hear application to quash charge Feb. 28

     

  • Death sentence by hanging is unconstitutional, says Falana

    Death sentence by hanging is unconstitutional, says Falana

    Lawyer activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has said that it is illegal for government to execute the death penalty sentence in Lagos state.

    Lagos state Attorney General and Commissional for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem had on Wednesday  had said government is seriously working on signing death warrant, for the execution of the General-Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, popularly called Reverend King and other condemned prisoners in the various prisons  in the state.

    Kazeem, at the flag off of the yearly ministerial press conference, said it has become necessary for the government to look at the issue considering that some convicts on death row are beginning to demand for certain rights, since they feel that no action will be taking against them.
    “This government is very strong on law and order. And the case is one of those that is under review. Like him, many others are on death row. And very soon, residents of Lagos will see the action of the government on it.

    But Falana, in a letter to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode dated April 19, 2017 contended that it is illegal and unconstitutional to execute such death sentence by hanging or firing  squad as it will lead to the violation of his fundamental right  to freedom from torture guaranteed by the Constitution.

    Presently in Nigeria, death sentences are usually executed by hanging as no prison has gas chamber or electric chair as it is in other countries.

    Although many persons have been convicted for armed robbery and murder and sentenced to death by the Lagos State High Court since 1999, he reminded the governor that his predecessors did not sign death warrants for the execution of any person on death row.

    Rather, he said all the convicts on death row had the death sentences imposed on them commuted to life imprisonment.

    The letter to Governor Ambode stated in part: “It is pertinent to draw the attention of Your Excellency to the case of Ajulu & Ors. V. Attorney-General of Lagos State (unreported) Suit No: ID/76M/2008 of 29th June 2012 wherein the Lagos State High Court held that while a person who commits murder may be sentenced to death it is illegal and unconstitutional to execute such death sentence by hanging or firing  squad as it will lead to the violation of his fundamental right  to freedom from torture guaranteed by the Constitution.

    According to the learned trial judge, Olokooba J: “…death by hanging and firing squad amounts to a violation of the condemned’s right to dignity of the human person and amount to inhuman and degrading treatment is consequently unconstitutional being violative of section 34(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. Section 367 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Lagos State and any other Law which provides for hanging and condemned by the neck till he be dead are accordingly declared unconstitutional. Section 1(3) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act in so far as it seeks to be implemented by the Respondent it is also declared unconstitutional and void.”

    “On the basis of the valid and subsisting judgment of the Lagos High Court on the illegality of the execution of the death penalty in Lagos State we urge Your Excellency not to sign  a death warrant authorizing the killing of any condemned prisoner either by hanging, firing squad or any other means whatsoever’.

    He urged the governor, to in the circumstance; commute the death sentences of all condemned prisoners in Lagos State to life imprisonment forthwith.

     

  • Lagos working on signing death warrant for Rev Kings, others

    Lagos working on signing death warrant for Rev Kings, others

    Lagos State Government has said it is seriously working on signing death warrant, for the execution of the General-Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, popularly called Reverend King as well as other murder convicts in the state.

    It will be recalled that the Supreme Court recently, Okays the judgment on Ezeugo who was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging on January 11, 2007, for the alleged murder of his church member, Ann Uzoh.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, who disclosed this Tuesday while briefing journalists, at the flag off of the yearly ministerial press conference, said it has become necessary for the government to look at the issues considering that some convicts on death row are beginning to demand for certain rights, since they feel that no action will be taking.

    “This government is very strong on law and order. And the case is one of those that is under review. Like him, many others are on death row. And very soon, residents of Lagos will see the action of the government on it.

    “There are lots of people on death row. There are some states that have been active in enforcing the judgement. I know that many had zeroed on Rev. King. I discussed his issues actively with the prison authority during my recent prison visit and it was on the instruction of the State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. That showed that it is a sensitive issue.

    “I have given you indication that we are moving towards that direction. The previous governors of this state have not signed (papers) any of those death sentence. But the prison authority had informed that some of the convicts on death row are beginning to think they have some rights. We are going to move in that direction, you will hear from me,” he said.

    The commissioner also informed that the government has re- opened the case of Hamzat Al Mustapha, who was allegedly fingered in the murder of the late Kudirat Abiola.
    He said the government is putting machinery in motion to ensure that justice was done on the matter.

    He said ministry through its directorate of legislative Drafting and the law reform Commission has been involved in the drafting, amendment and reforms of laws and regulations sponsored in collaboration with the House of Assembly and other ministries departments and Agencies.
    He said a total of 14 bills were passed into law while 12 are currently undergoing drafting process.
    Kazeem  listed some of those laws enacted that has  impacted positively in the lives of residence, to include the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund law, 2016, kidnapping law, 2016, State Environmental protection and Management law2017 among others.

    He revealed that a total of 750,000 newly introduced criminal suspect forms was handed over to the state police command in the month of March in order to ease justice delivery, help record keeping and intelligence gathering of criminals in the state.

    He said the government is working on the establishment of a DNA forensic centre adding that the centre will be geared towards enabling proper investigation, prosecution of crimes, adjudication and the administration of justice in the state.

    He also added that the ministry obtained judgment in defilement matters, ranging
    7 years, 10 years, 15 years imprisonment respectively.

  • Lagos restates commitment to Justice Sector reform

    Lagos restates commitment to Justice Sector reform

    …Receives report of implementation committee



    The Lagos State Government on Monday pledged to fully implement recommendations made at the recently held summit on administration of justice with the view to enhancing justice delivery in the State.

    Speaking while receiving report of a 10-Man Committee set up to review communiqué issued at the end of the summit, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem assured Lagosians that they would soon feel the positive impact of the policy implementation of the State Government on justice administration.

    He said the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was determined to implement reforms that would guarantee effectiveness, efficiency and transparency in justice administration in the state.

    The two-day Summit was organised by the State’s Ministry of Justice in January 2017 to deliberate on how to improve justice delivery in the state.

    “I am so happy to receive the report within the stipulated time of three weeks. The Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode is operating so fast as if he is running out of time to implement his good policies.

    “We are at the implementation stage now having submitted your report, and I believe the Governor will not hesitate to see the implementation of the recommendations as fast as possible,” Kazeem said.

    He also promised to extend the policies recommended to the Federal Government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the National Judicial Commission (NJC) for input and successful implementation.

    He thanked the entire committee members for the job, while urging them to expect more tasks ahead in an effort to improve the state of the justice delivery system.

    In his response, Chairman of the review committee, Mr Fola Arthur-Worrey said it was time for drastic steps to be taken to lift the judiciary out of the woods.

    Arthur-Worrey, who was a former Solicitor General of the State, said there was need for a lot to be done in order to improve on the administrative mechanism of the State judiciary to safe guard the system as well as reform the systemic failure.

    He said though any reform process is gradual in nature, but government must be firm enough to implement the recommendations and get the system running efficiently.

    “Reforming any system is an engineering process. If you don’t disrupt, you don’t reform. The judiciary is not efficient enough in mechanism, and we are not talking of the individual judges, but the entire system. So, the government must implement the recommendations fast to make the system work,” he said.

    Other members of the committee included Mrs Busola Okunuga of the State Judiciary; Mrs Kehinde Taiwo, Mr Rotimi Seriki, Mr Gbenga Olatunji, Mr Supo Olayibi, Mr Yomi Okunu, Dotun Ibiyomi, Mrs Joyce Oluwa and CSP Effiong Asuquo.

     

  • Leashed girls’ saga: Lagos Govt, Police step in

    Leashed girls’ saga: Lagos Govt, Police step in

    …Suspect admits act is anti-social, promises to stop

    Following social media outrage on last weekend’s show by a socialite, Mike Eze-Nwalie Nwogu, aka Pretty Mike who stormed a wedding venue in Lagos with two masked girls bounded by dog chains, the Lagos State Police Command, Wednesday, quizzed the suspect who admitted his transgression and promised to desist from the act.

    Nwogu, 30, and owner of ‘Club Uno’, located in Ikeja, Lagos was arrested on the orders of the Lagos State Government.

    It was the second time Nwogu was stepping out in that fashion which has been condemned by many who called calling on the government to step into the matter.

    Reports say the suspect was released after giving a useful statement to the police with an undertaking to desist from putting any woman or man on a leash again.

    Pretty Mike

    The undertaking reads in part: “I, Mike Eze Nwalie, a.k.a Pretty Mike of 21A Magodo GRA, Luma Street, do hereby undertake to stop whatever act of putting girls on a leash or any other degrading treatment to ladies and guys.

    “I am aware that such act offends the law of the State of Lagos and if I repeat it again, there will be legal act towards me.

    “I undertake to issue a letter of apology to the public effective from tomorrow on all my social media platforms.”

    Speaking on the matter, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem said the State Government will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour that attempts to dehumanise any citizen in the State.

    Kazeem restated government’s determination to prosecute any individual or group of persons who violate any law of the State under any guise.

    “The Lagos State Government is committed to the protection of the rights of all citizens including children, women and all the vulnerable persons in the State,” he said.

  • Lagos urges men to lead fight against sexual abuse

    Lagos urges men to lead fight against sexual abuse

    The Lagos State Government Thursday urged men to lead from the front, the campaign against sexual abuse and domestic violence, while flagging off a one month long awareness campaign against all forms of gender based violence.

    The State Government, during a press conference organised under the auspices of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, said the campaign should not be left alone to the women folk, adding that all hands must be on deck to frontally address it.

    Speaking on the activities lined up to mark the month, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem said the theme of this year’s event: “Promoting Positive Masculinity, Men Can End Sexual And Gender Based Violence,” was carefully selected and same centered on the compelling need to ensure men act as flag bearers in the fight against such crimes.

    Kazeem, who was represented by DSVRT’s Alternate Chairman, Mrs Omotilewa Ibirogba said the campaign would kick off on September 8, with a walk from Ikeja Under Bridge at 9amto Lagos House in Alausa where they would be received by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, while there would be a simultaneous walk from Festac Divisional Police Station to Federal Housing Authority where participants would be received by the Sole Administrator of Amuwo Odofin Local Government and the Priest of Anglican Cathedral Church in the area.

    He said a one-day symposium on the role of men in ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) targeted at artisans, market men and women, members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), police officers, among others, would take place at Muson Centre in Onikan on September 15, while an event for children will hold on September 26 at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa.

    The climax of the activities, according to Kazeem, is an evening of arts where SGBV will be expressed through arts, and the event will be hosted by Governor Ambode with participation of key players and influencers in the society who have helped in the fight against SGBV in Lagos, adding that deserving individuals and private institutions will also be honored at the event.

    Kazeem, who is also the Chairman of DSVRT, said in furtherance of the Team’s objectives to be a repository of data, a detailed research was carried out in February 2016 in all prison facilities in Lagos on sex convicts and inmates awaiting trial for SGBV cases.

    “Results of the research disclosed that 80.9 percent of the inmates were abused as a child implying that they had become sexually active at an early age which illustrates the trend of ‘abused abuser.’

    “Furthermore, DSVRT has also scientifically discovered that a lot of attention has been on females, unconsciously neglecting males who have a major role to play in tackling and preventing SGBV,” Kazeem said.

    Also speaking at the media parley, Public Relations Officer of Lagos State Police Command, Dolapo Badmos, said there has been an increase in the report of SGBV crimes to law enforcement agencies over the past few months, adding that the Command was working closely with the Office of the Attorney General of the State and the DSVRT to frontally address the issue.

    She said from the recent reports and investigation, it was discovered that the major perpetrators of sexual offences were religious leaders hiding under religion to commit such heinous crimes.

    She said just few days ago, about 30 girls were rescued from an acclaimed man of God, adding that the State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni had already directed a discreet investigation on the case, while the public would be briefed in due course.

  • Lagos sets up task force to curb land grabbers

    Lagos sets up task force to curb land grabbers

    Lagos state government Monday inaugurated a five-man Special Task Force to curb the criminal activities of land grabbers, also known as omo-onile, in the state.

    Inaugurating the special task force at the Alausa Secretariat, the state‎ Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem warned that henceforth, will bring the full wrath of the law on anybody caught for forcibly taking another person’s land.

    The terms of reference of the committee, he said  include: “to reduce to a barest minimum the activities of persons or corporate entities who use force and intimidation to dispossess or prevent any person or entity from acquiring legitimate interest and possession of property acquired state government or private transactions; to coordinate the efforts of the various agencies of government charged with enforcing the state government rights over land in Lagos and to work with all security agencies to ensure enforcement of state government and private property rights in Lagos State”.

    Kazeem explained that the state government decided to set up the task force in realisation that in recent years, the land grabbers’ ‎have caused havoc and unrest in different parts of the state by dispossessing legitimate land owners of their properties and thereby stifling commercial activities in the state.

    “It is therefore important that the state government not only identifies the effects of the problems being perpetrated by these unscrupulous elements on commercial activities and peace of the citizenry but also find lasting solutions to the menace”, he said.

    He stated further that the task force was also set up because of the need to protect investors and maintain law and order adding, “This by implication will encourage the verification of legal claims‎ through litigation rather than resorting to violence”.

    ‎The attorney general emphasised that land is a very important asset in the state and security of title is also very important “and therefore, anybody who uses threat of arms or physical threat to dispossess people of their legitimate property will be treated as criminals.

    “This ‎is in accordance with section 52, 53, and 281 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State” he said, adding “it is noteworthy that section 281 of our criminal law includes land as things capable of being stolen. Sections 52 and 53 prescribed jail term of two years for any person who forcibly enters or takes possession of a land in a manner likely to cause breach of peace against a person entitled by law to the possession of the land”.

    He also disclosed that the state assembly is currently in the process of passing a law that exclusively deals with the activities of the land grabbers and prescribe appropriate stiff penalty for offenders.

    The Task Force include‎ a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Akinjide Bakare who will serve as alternate Chairman in the absence of the attorney general; representative of the Commissioner for the environment, Dr. Afolabi Abiodun; representatives of the Lands Bureau Messrs Olayinka Adebayo and Faiq Abou.

    Others are Chief Security Officer to the governor, Mr. Saheed Kassim; Commander Governor’s Monitoring team, Mr. Ganiyu Adebowale; a representative of the Commissioner for Physical Planning while a staff of the ministry, Ms Mosunmola Balogun was appointed secretary.

  • Lagos signs historic city deal with Dubai

    Lagos signs historic city deal with Dubai

    The Lagos State Government and the City of Dubai on Monday entered into a historic partnership that will see Lagos emerge as the first Smart City in Africa.

    The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Lagos Smart City was signed at the Emirate Towers, Dubai by the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem and the Chief Executive Officer of Smart City Dubai LLC, Mr. Jabber Bin Hafez.

    The signing of the MOU, which would make Lagos the home of the very first Smart City in Africa, was witnessed by the Chairman of Dubai Holdings, His Excellency, Ahmad Bin Byat who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    A Smart City is a growing concept that draws from the success of Dubai’s innovative knowledge-based industry clusters to empower business growth for companies and knowledge workers all over the world.

    Governor Ambode in a statement signed on Tuesday by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said that the Smart City (Lagos) is expected to bring multibillion dollar investments to the State, create thousands of jobs and transform the Ibeju-Lekki axis in particular and the entire Lagos State in general.

    “This is a deliberate attempt by us to establish a strong convergence between technology, economic development and governance.

    “The MOU is between Lagos State Government and Dubai Holdings, LLC, owners of Smart City (Dubai) to develop a sustainable, smart and globally connected knowledge-based communities that drive knowledge economy,” Governor Ambode said.

    According to the Governor, the collaboration is part of the larger vision to make Lagos safer, cleaner and more prosperous.

    “A Smart-City Lagos will be the pride of all Lagosians just as we have Smart City Dubai, Smart-City Malta and Smart-City Kochi (India). We are encouraged by the fact that we do not, as a government, need to develop at a slow pace, but take full advantage of the digital age and fast track development of Lagos to a real megalopolis that we can all be proud of.

    “The future is ours to take. It also marks the first smart city in Africa when completed.” He said.

    The Governor added that apart from creating jobs for the people, the project would also become the world’s first carbon neutral city.

    Lagos, he said, “will become an important centre for innovation in smart technologies, wellness and destination for green tourism.”

    Earlier in his remarks, the Deputy Prime Minister, Bin Byat said the Dubai authorities were impressed with the conduct and readiness of Lagos State Government and were eager to proceed with the State Government and the Smart City Lagos project.

     

  • Lagos handles 4,035 rape, child abuse cases in one year

    Lagos handles 4,035 rape, child abuse cases in one year

    The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said in the last one year it handled a total of 4, 035 cases ranging from rape, child abuse, sexual assault, sexual abuse, defilement, divorce, matrimonial issues and child’s custody and maintenance, just as it vowed not to shy away from prosecuting perpetrators of domestic violence crime no matter how highly placed in the society.

    The State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, who disclosed this during a press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa on the activities of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) in the last one year, said government, through the agency, equally handled a total of 192 cases.

    Out of the 192 cases, Kazeem said the government handled 89 domestic violence cases, 62 defilement cases, 18 rape cases, 6 attempted rape, 10 child neglect and 7 child abuse cases, while 92 cases are presently being heard in court.

    Kazeem said that the State Government under the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has a zero tolerance for issues relating to domestic violence and child abuse and would not relent until the scourge is reduced to the barest minimum.

    He said agencies of government, including DSVRT, Office of Public Defender (OPD) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), among others, have been mandated to ensure that while perpetrators of the act are brought to justice, victims of domestic violence are given succor towards their rehabilitation.

    “As regards provision of shelter for victims, the Ministries of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Youth and Social Development as well as strategic partners NGOs have played key roles in ensuring that victims were evacuated to a safer environment of shelter homes.

    “All the victims of sexual assault received medical attention from Mirabel Centre and State Hospitals, and so far, 50 of such cases were charged to court,” he said.

    He said the essence of the press briefing today aside giving account of efforts of the State Government in the one year, it was also a means to send a strong message across that the government would not relent until the scourge is completely stamped out.

    “As we all know the issues of gender violence, violence against children and all forms of inhuman treatment against the less privileged has been a very critical issue for Governor Ambode. Right from when he was sworn in, he had said that this issue was going to be something he would pursue with passion and diligence. He has since then given support to the DSVRT, OPD and all other related agencies including the Police Force to fight this scourge in other that it should be eliminated.

    “Let me sound a note of warning here that no matter how highly placed you are in the society, if you commit any domestic violence crime, Lagos State will go after you and prosecute you in court,” the Attorney General said.

    He assured that the State Government would continue to build on its recent efforts and step up its campaign efforts to put the issue of domestic violence on the front burner.

    To this end, he said the DSVRT would on Friday, June 3, hold a free clinic for victims of domestic violence, rape at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, while they can seek counselling with trained professionals via their hotline on 08137960048.

     

     

  • 1,536 criminal cases prosecuted in one year – Lagos

    1,536 criminal cases prosecuted in one year – Lagos

    The Lagos State Government on Friday said that it prosecuted a total of 1, 536 criminal cases in all courts in the last one year through the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem who disclosed this during the ongoing ministerial press briefing to herald the one year anniversary of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration, said that out of the total number of cases being prosecuted, judgments were delivered in 15 of the matters being handled by the Directorate.

    He said out of the 1,536 cases, 1,375 cases are currently being prosecuted at the Federal and State High Courts as well as 122 and 38 respectively at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

    Kazeem said that in addition to the 1,536 active criminal prosecution files, the DPP’s office was also handling 137 applications for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.

    “With regards to criminal prosecutions, our Directorate of Public Prosecutions is committed to ensuring that all offenders are brought to book, thereby discouraging impunity in our society.
    The Directorate is also committed to speedy trails, especially so that suspects are not detained for too long awaiting trial.

    “The truism ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ is one of our guiding principles, especially in criminal justice administration. Both the victims of a crime and the alleged offender deserve to have their case resolved at the earliest possible time,” he said.

    He said the Legal Advisory Unit which focuses exclusively on the review of criminal case files, containing reports of investigation submitted by the Police and issuance of legal advice has been able to hasten considerably the speed of criminal prosecutions by reducing the time spent on issuing legal advice.

    “In the period under review, out of 1,209 police investigation files sent to the DPP’s office for legal advice, the Unit has already completed work on 940 while the rest are still being processed, many requiring additional information or further investigation by the Police or other relevant agency,” the Commissioner said.

    Kazeem said the government has always taken the lead in legislation and law reform initiatives just as he assured of the present administration’s commitment to continue ensuring that every citizens of Lagos State has access to justice.

    He said the State Government in order to ensure that its laws are kept updated and readily accessible to the general public has completed a new compilation of the Lagos Laws, which includes all amendment and additions.

    He said, “In line with the direction of His Excellency,  the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the 2015  Revised Laws of Lagos State are now accessible online to the general  public, which provides access to all the Laws that have operated in the state since inception in 1967”.

    “The landmark achievement within the past one year are indicative of the people-oriented theme of the governor’s agenda, which includes establishment of mobile courts, access to justice, fight against domestic and sexual violence as enactment of laws that provided the springboard for improving  and promoting socio-economic activities,” Kazeem said.