Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), Lagos State, Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice
185 Cases Prosecuted From 3 Magisterial Districts In 60 days –Lagos MOJ
The Lagos State Government said it has prosecuted about 185 cases within the months of March and April 2020 from three Magisterial Districts of Ogba, Ebute-Meta and Ikorodu.
The State’s Ministry of Justice made known in the monthly report of district prosecutors released today, by the Ministry, according to a press release issued by its Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Kayode Oyekanmi.
In the report, according to the press release, c, prosecution of the 185 cases was approved after been filtered by the district prosecutors assigned to Ikorodu, Ogba, and Ebutte -Metta magistrate courts.
The release stated that the creation of District Prosecutors on March 3, 2020, as a sub-unit under the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) to operate in a pilot scheme involving 3 magisterial areas of the State, was adopted as part of the recommendations of the Arthur Worrey led-Advisory Committee on Police prosecutorial power in magistrate courts inaugurated in January, 2020 by the State Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice.
In the recommendation, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Barrister Fola Arthur-Worry, in January 2020 said a sub-unit of the DPP office should be established in 3 Magistrate Courts to filter charges presented by Investigating Police Officer (IPO) to the magistrate courts.
Arthur-Worry added that the involvement of the sub-unit of the DPP’S Office would ensure that cases presented by the IPO meets the evidential threshold required by the Law.
It was learnt that the Attorney General/ Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) in his reaction during submission of the report of the Arthur- Worrey Committee, said; “the operations of the district prosecutors would enhance speedy prosecution of cases before the court. It would also ensure the striking out of cases that disclose no prima facia evidence of offense committed.”
Onigbanjo (SAN) added that the district prosecutors would henceforth, take over the prosecution of severe and grievous criminal matters before the court.
I think it’s a good initiative that Prosecutorial Power of the Police is currently under a review process and care need to be taken not to prolong detention before the trial . The filtering of cases is good development but the criteria should be made open and transparent to avoid abuses . My only challenge herein goes to the Editor of this publication is that I and likely others may learn more if further investigation is done to let the Public know the status of the offences (miscellaneous/minor/ or felony) and likely effect of this District Prosecutors Unit to the protection of Human rights and Decongestion of Prison. Thanks.