The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN has reacted to the call by the Non Governmental Organizations and Stakeholders for the stopping of Policemen from Prosecuting in Magistrate Courts.

In a Press Release made available to TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL), the learned AG says there is no law at the moment in Lagos State precluding police from Prosecuting cases in Lagos Magistrate Courts and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which bars police from Prosecuting cases, does not apply to Lagos State. However, he has set up a committee under the chairmanship of Arthur Worrey, Esq to look into the matter and advise the government accordingly.

Below is the full statement:

PRESS STATEMENT
RE: POLICE PROSECUTORIAL POWER IN THE STATE MAGISTRATE COURTS.
… Position of Lagos State
– Attorney-General

The Ministry of Justice is aware of the current clamour by the Non-Governmental Organizations and Stakeholders to stop Police prosecution of criminal matters in Magistrate Courts in accordance to ACJA provisions.

The Ministry, wish to clearly state, that the ACJA does not apply to Lagos State. Furthermore, there is no provision of any Law barring the Police from prosecution of criminal matters in Magistrate Courts in Lagos State.

As such, the provision of the Law in Lagos State as it stands does not Bar the Police from the prosecution of matters in Magistrate Courts.

However, the Ministry of Justice is always willing to investigate any issue that would improve Administration of Justice in the State.

As a result, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN had directed the set – up of a committee to look into the matter and advice accordingly.

The committee members are as follows:
Arthur Worrey Esq – Chairman
T. K Shitta-Bey (Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Justice) – Member
Y. G Oshoala (Directorate of Public Prosecution) – Member
Lawson Coker – Member
Bayo Akinlade – Member
Rukayat Owolabi – Member
Arinola Ayokanmbi – Member.

More importantly, the Ministry is currently in the process of reviewing the State Laws relating to the Administration of Criminal Justice.

The Ministry hereby assures members of the public that they would be informed on the outcome of the committee’s report.

Mr. Kayode Oyekanmi
Deputy Director, Public Affairs
Ministry of Justice.