March 2023 – Lagos State Ministry of Justice

PRESS STATEMENT: PRESS STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF LATE WHITNEY ADENIRAN, (CHRISLAND STUDENT).

Posted on March 24, 2023

On the 9th of February 2023, Whitney Omodesola Adeniran a Student of Chrisland High School, Ikeja aged 12 years, slumped during the Inter-house Sports organized by the School at the Agege Sports Stadium and was subsequently rushed to Agege Central Hospital, Agege, Lagos where she was confirmed “brought in dead” (BID) by the doctor on duty. The case was referred to the Nigerian Police Force which carried out thorough investigation with the help of other agencies. The file was subsequently forwarded to the DPP’s Office on Monday 20th March, 2023 for review of the duplicate case file. On the 23rd of March, 2023, the DPP issued his Legal Advice and came to the conclusion that a prima facie case of Involuntary Manslaughter and Reckless and Negligent Acts had been established against the School, some members of Staff and one of the Vendors. They will therefore be charged with the offences of Involuntary Manslaughter and Reckless and Negligent Acts contrary to Sections 224 & 251of the Criminal Law, Ch C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015. Information will be filed in accordance with the legal advice issued by the DPP. Certified True Copies of the Legal advice is available on the Ministry of Justice website (www.lagosstatemoj.org.).

PRESS RELEASE: UPDATE ON THE MATTER OF THE COLLISION BETWEEN THE LASG STAFF BUS AND A TRAIN

Posted on March 24, 2023

It would be recalled that on the morning of the 9th of March, 2023, a LASG staff bus collided with a train at the PWD railway crossing at Ikeja and the train dragged the bus with its passengers along the tracks until it came to a stop at Sogunle, a suburb of Ikeja, Lagos State. The horrific incident which involved LASG staff heading to work in the staff bus and passengers of the train resulted in 6 fatalities with about 96 others with various degrees of injuries. The injured victims were hospitalized across many Government Hospitals in the State. The driver of the staff bus on the fateful day (Mr. Oluwaseun Osibanjo) was apprehended and handed over to the Police for investigation and possible prosecution by the State. At the end of investigation, the casefile was forwarded to the D.P.P for further statutory actions. Upon the receipt and review of the casefile by the D.P.P, a prima facie case of Manslaughter, and Grievous Body Harm were disclosed against the driver of the Staff bus. Accordingly, he is to be charged with 6 counts of Manslaughter and 10 counts of Grievous Body Harm. Both offences are contrary to Sections 224 and 245 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The Office of the D.P.P will immediately file charges against the Driver. However, his arraignment before the High Court of Lagos State shall be delayed until he is fully fit to stand trial, having sustained serious injuries during the accident.

PRESS STATEMENT – THE TRAIN/LAGOS STATE STAFF BUS ACCIDENT

Posted on March 10, 2023

In the early hours of 9th March 2023 at about 7:30 a.m, a Lagos State Government Staff bus with Registration Number 04A-48LA coming from Isolo to Ikeja while trying to cross the railway line at PWD, Ikeja, collided with a moving train. The Honourale Attorney General of Lagos State (HAG) will like to inform the public that the Bus Driver (Remi Osibanjo) has been arrested and detained for further investigation by the Railway Police Command Headquarters, Ebute-Metta, Lagos. The Commissioner of Police, Railway Police Command has taken over the investigation of the accident. The Bus involved in the collision has also been retrieved and sent for thorough examination at the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service Office and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) await both reports from the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) and the Police regarding the cause of the accident. Whilst MOJ commiserate with the victims of the accident and the families of those who lost their lives to the tragic accident the HAG wants to assure members of the public that upon receipt of the case file from the Police and the report of the VIO, the office shall not hesitate to prosecute any person(s) found culpable.

PRESS STATEMENT:LAGOS CONDEMNS ALLEGED PLANS TO EXHUME EX-CHRISLAND STUDENT’S BODY

Posted on March 4, 2023

The Lagos State Ministry of Justice is aware of the current ongoing dialogue about the alleged plans to exhume the body of the late Whitney Omodesola Adeniran, a student of Chrisland Schools whose death as revealed by the autopsy, conducted by Lagos State University Teaching Hospital was as a result of asphyxia and electrocution. Whilst we have not received any such official communication requesting for exhumation , however if and when we do receive such a request, we shall be opposed to it. In any event, the circumstances for exhumation under the Coroners’ Systems Law, 2015 do not arise in this case. Additionally, it is not our intention to further traumatize the deceased’s family. We are working closely with the police who have given their reassurance that the duplicate case file would be forwarded on Monday, 6th of March, 2023 to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to aid the speedy issuance of Legal Advice.

REJOINDER – ONLINE PUBLICATION TITLED “LAGOS STATE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE: SHOCKING TALES OF WOE AND INJUSTICE: CLARION CALL FOR URGENT REFORM

Posted on March 3, 2023

The attention of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice (Ministry) has been drawn to the above captioned malicious and false publication and the reaction to the said publication is as follows:

Press Release: Chrisland

Posted on March 2, 2023

The Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice has received the Post Mortem report dated 1st of March, 2023, issued by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, in respect of Adeniran Omodesola Whitney, who was until her demise, a student of Chrisland School, Opebi. The post mortem report revealed the cause of death to be Asphyxia and electrocution. The Directorate of Public Prosecutions has been instructed to immediately issue Legal Advice on the matter. We use this medium to commiserate with Whitney’s family, even as we reassure Lagosians that anybody found culpable would immediately be charged to court. Signed Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Lagos State Ministry of Justice 2nd March, 2023

Month: March 2023