Lagos State Ministry of Justice

PRESS RELEASE : LAGOS MOJ ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF ADEBAYO HAROUN AS DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS.

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………Appoints Ajayi Yetunde as Director, Restorative Justice Centre. The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has announced the appointment of Mr. Adebayo Haroun as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), reinforcing its commitment to strengthening the administration of criminal justice in the State. The appointment, conveyed through an official memo from the Office of the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, reflects the Ministry’s strategic focus on enhancing prosecutorial efficiency, upholding the rule of law, and advancing justice sector reforms. Mr. Haroun, a Director (State Counsel) and seasoned legal practitioner and public prosecutor, previously served as Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN. He has also served the Ministry in various capacities and possesses extensive experience in criminal litigation, case management, and legal advisory services.Mr. Haroun is expected to provide strong leadership in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and further improve the quality and timeliness of criminal justice delivery in Lagos State. In the same vein, Miss Ajayi Yetunde has been appointed as Director, Restorative Justice Centre, Lagos State Ministry of Justice. Miss Ajayi’s appointment underscores the Ministry’s continued emphasis on alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and restorative justice initiatives aimed at promoting reconciliation and reducing case backlog within the justice system. These appointments highlight the Ministry’s resolve to strengthen institutional leadership, improve service delivery, and sustain ongoing reforms across its various directorates and units. The appointments take immediate effect.

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CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE: LAGOS MOJ HOLDS RECEPTION IN HONOUR OF FORMER DPP, DR. BABAJIDE OLUMUYIWA MARTINS ON HIS APPOINTMENT AS PERMANENT SECRETARY, BUREAU OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER

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The Lagos State Ministry of Justice held a reception in honour of the appointment of Dr. Babajide Olumuyiwa Martins as pioneer Permanent Secretary of one of its key agencies ,the Bureau of the Public Defender.(BPD) on Friday, 24th April 2026, recognising his distinguished service, professionalism, and commitment to justice sector reforms. The well-attended event, held at the Conference Room of the Ministry at the State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, brought together government officials, members of the Bar and Bench, as well as family, friends, and colleagues to celebrate this remarkable achievement. In his remarks, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Hameed Oyenuga, described Dr Martins as a seasoned legal practitioner and administrator whose wealth of experience will be instrumental in advancing the Ministry’s mandate. He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring effective justice delivery for all residents of Lagos State. Earlier, in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Citizens Mediation Bureau, Mrs. Aderinsola Olanrewaju, commended Dr. Martins for his exemplary career trajectory, noting that his appointment is a testament to his dedication, competence, and unwavering commitment to public service. She expressed confidence in Dr. Martins’ capacity to further strengthen institutional efficiency and drive impactful reforms within the Ministry. In his response, Dr. Babajide Olumuyiwa Martins expressed profound gratitude to God, the Lagos State Government, and all well-wishers for the honour. He also extended his sincere appreciation to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro; the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN; and the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Hameed Oyenuga, for their unwavering support, guidance, and confidence in his capacity to serve. Dr. Martins pledged to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, diligence, and service, while working collaboratively with all stakeholders to enhance the administration of justice in the State. Goodwill messages were delivered by Hon.Judges of the high court of Lagos State, Directors,Friends and family members,State Counsel ,and other professional colleagues, all of whom highlighted Dr. Martins’ integrity, diligence, generosity and leadership qualities that have distinguished him over the years. The appointment of Dr. Martins represents a significant milestone in the history of the State Ministry of Justice, as he becomes the Pioneer Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of the Public Defender and Second Permanent Secretary appointed within one year by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for agencies under the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).

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PRESS RELEASE: THE REINTRODUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION EXERCISE IN LAGOS STATE-WITH FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT PRESERVED

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The narration in the media on the Court of Appeal Ruling in respect of the case on environmental sanitation in Lagos is not correct. In fact the subsisting Court of Appeal judgment in CA/L/381/2015 delivered on 23rd November 2021, is in favour of State Government. The Court held that the environmental sanitation exercise in Lagos State was valid and backed by law and that the fundamental right of the Applicant Mr.Ebun Adegboruwa (now an SAN) was not breached. It was Mr. Ebun Adegboruwa who was dissatisfied with the judgment that appealed to the Supreme Court. This was a case i personally prosecuted. The Supreme Court is yet to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal and Unless there is a subsequent court of Appeal judgement which i am not aware of that restrained the conduct of environmental sanitation exercise in Lagos State, it will not be unlawful to have a controlled movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. The November 201C, judgment of the Court of Appeal, of the same Lagos Division, in the FAITH OKAFOR vs. LAGOS STATEGOVERNMENT & ANOR, cannot be regarded as the extant position of the law and can be said to have been superceded by the current 2021 judgment of the same court. Therefore if Lagos State government choose to restrict movement during the period of environmental sanitation exercise it will not be in contravention of a subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal. However what the government introduced is a controlled movement of residents during the period of environmental sanitation exercise without affecting the fundamental rights of movement and residents are free to go to anywhere they wish through roads and streets that are not blocked. In other words street where cleaning are on going may be blocked to protect people and officials involved in the cleaning exercise from motorists Lawal Pedro, SANHon Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice25th April,2026

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REJOINDER OF THE HONOURABLE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF LAGOS STATE TO ARTICLE BY OLUSEGUN ADENIYI ON “IS LAGOS STATE SHIELDING KILLERS”.

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The attention of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has been drawn to a publication titled “Is Lagos State Shielding Killers?” by Olusegun Adeniyi and published by THISDAYLIVE of 23rd April, 2025 which has now gain traction on social media. The publication references the incident of 27th August 2025 at Owode Onirin involving Inspector Manu Bala & 4 Others and where 6 traders lost their lives. The Ministry considers it necessary to correct the serious misrepresentations and unfounded insinuations contained in the publication. At the outset, the insinuation that Lagos State may be shielding Suspects connected with the unfortunate incident is entirely false, misleading, and unsupported by facts contained in the Police case file presented to the Ministry of Justice for Legal Advice. It must be observed that when violent crimes such as Owode Onirin killing are not properly investigated by the Police and no prima facie is made out against Suspects arrested they are entitled to the benefit of doubt and to be released. In the OWODE ONIRIN KILLING – Lagos Police Command has not helped the cause of justice in the matter. We hereby set the record straight. i. Following the incident of 27th August 2025 in Owode Onirin, the Nigerian PoliceForce, Lagos Command conducted investigation into the matter and subsequently forwarded the case file to the Lagos State Ministry of Justice for review and legal advice, in line with established prosecutorial procedures as sanctioned by Section 74 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, Lagos State. ii. The Ministry undertook a thorough review of all materials in the case file, includingwitness statements, statements of the suspects and other documentary evidence and came to the conclusion that there was no evidence that linked the Suspects arrested to the alleged crime. For instance, there was no statement of an eye witness in the case file to confirm that it was the Policemen that shot the deceased persons despite the fact that the incident was said to have taken place in a market. Contrary to the insinuation against the Ministry, the evidence in the case file revealed that it was the traders that attacked the Police Officers as they got to the land in dispute, dispossessed one of them Inspector Jibrin of his service rifle which a trader began to shoot. The Police Inspector was assaulted and had to be rescued by other Policemen who rushed him to nearby hospital to safe his life and for treatment of his injuries. The evidence in the Police case file also revealed that the only civilian Suspect arrested was not at the scene of the crime and his Alibi was confirmed by the police investigators. iii. In view of the sensitive nature of the matter the Ministry of Justice restrained itself from issuing a Legal Advice of no case to answer, rather a letter was written to the Police Authority on the 30th October, 2025 to conduct further investigation and provide evidence in the following areas; a. Post mortem reports of the deceased persons (Adeoye Taiwo, Akinloye Seyi, Wale Adebayo, Abraham Idowu, Dare Mufutau Salaudeen and Adeoye Akeem Aderemi)b. Ballistics Report of bullets extracted from deceased personsc. Examination report of the rifles of the officers; that is:– Insp. Manu Bala – AK47 Breech No. T22022– Insp. Ahmed Abass – AK47 Breech No. P21266– Cpl. Ibrahim Kasimu – AK47 Breech No. AG1600– Cpl. Ibrahim Garba – AK47 Breech No. ACC 2537– Rifle assigned to Insp. Jibrin iv. Meanwhile the Suspects remained in custody and their bail applications wererejected. Therefore, when after 45 days the Police Authority failed or neglected to furnish the Ministry with the outcome of its further investigation or evidence to link the Suspects to the crime, a reminder letter dated 17th December, 2025 was forwarded to the Police Authority. v. It was about 6 months after the incarceration of the Suspects and the Ministry didnot receive any response from the Police Authority on further investigation as requested that the Ministry issued Legal Advice LJP/HOM/2025/125/20 to the dated 3rd March, 2026 based on available facts contained in the duplicate case file to the effect that no prima facie case has been disclosed against the Suspects for the offence of Conspiracy to commit a felony or Involuntary Manslaughter contrary to Sections 411 and 224 of the Criminal Law Ch. C17 Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State, 2011 and any charge against them be withdrawn. However, in concluding the Legal Advice it was clearly stated that the duplicate case file is retained and in the event that any evidence is discovered linking any of the Suspects to the crime, the Ministry shall not hesitate to prosecute the Suspects as there is no time bar for criminal prosecution. vi. It was after the Legal Advice was issued and served that the Police Authoritydeemed it fit to forward provisional Post Mortem Reports and Ballistic Reports to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Ministry. The documents are being reviewed to enable the office issue comprehensive Supplementary Legal Advice devoid of emotions and sentiments. The decision not to prosecute, where evidence is insufficient, is not an act of protection—it is a constitutional and ethical obligation imposed on the Attorney-General to prevent wrongful prosecution and to uphold the integrity of the justice system. vii. Justice is not a One-Way but a Three Way Traffic –justice to the victim, justice tothe suspect and justice to the public. May we not see the day when a Justice Department will act on assumptions, suspicion, emotion or bias of the Police and not Prima Facie evidence to approve or commence prosecution of any suspect in this State or any State in Nigeria. Lagos State remains resolve in ensuring that justice is served in all cases and to all parties involved, without fear or favour. CONCLUSIONIn the light of the above, the Ministry is curious of the purpose and intent of the Police narratives to the Press on this matter. We believe that misrepresentation, misinformation and suppression of material facts in this

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LAGOS IS READY TO PROSECUTE ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENDERS

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The Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court was established on the mandate of addressing flagrant abuse of environmental and other related offences, with the intent to dispense justice by bringing offenders in line with extant laws and regulations in the State. This was affirmed by the Coordinator of Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court, Mr. Olufemi Adekunle. He stated this at the monthly technical meeting of the agency on the return of Monthly Sanitation Exercise. He said that the establishment of the Mobile Court was fueled by the increasing surge in environmental offences and reiterated the government zero-tolerance stance on environmental infractions such as illegal dumping of refuse, blockage of drainage channels, and failure to patronize approved waste management operators. He affirmed that residents or organizations found violating the regulations will be prosecuted accordingly..He further said that the Mobile Court is ready to prosecute individuals or organizations who flout environmental sanitation laws, putting the public at risk, and that anyone found guilty of littering, dumping waste improperly, or other sanitation infractions would face the full weight of the law. Finally, he urged everyone to comply with the laws by disposing waste properly, cleanliness of the environment and avoiding littering and dumping of waste in drainage, or engaging in activities that could harm the environment. JIDE AJIBOLAHEAD, PUBLIC AFFAIRS UNIT.

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LAGOS DPP ,BABAJIDE OLUMUYIWA MARTINS APPOINTED AS PERMANENT SECRETARY

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The Lagos State Government has announced the appointment of the States Director of Public Prosecutions,Dr Babajide Martins as a Permanent Secretary in the State’s Public Service. The appointment, approved by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, is part of a broader initiative to strengthen and reinvigorate the State’s policy implementation and public service delivery framework. According to an official circular issued by the Office of the Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, the appointment takes effect from April 2, 2026. However, specific posting and deployment of the newly appointed Permanent Secretary will be announced in due course. Dr. Martins’ elevation reflects his dedication, professionalism, and valuable contributions to the Lagos State Public Service and Justice delivery respectively. His appointment is widely seen as a testament to his experience and capacity to contribute at a higher level of governance and administration.

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PRESS RELEASE ON RECOVERY OF TAX

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The under listed have been taken before the Revenue Court in Lagos for prosecution and recovery from them of the assessed tax liabilities. S/N NAME AMOUNT 1 CHIDI AJAERE EMMANUEL ₦35,414,309.65k   2 IFEANYI UZOARU F. ₦13,505,132.00k   3 MRS OLUFUNMILOLA ABE ₦30,743,980.61k   4 IENG NIG LTD     ₦67,106,712.43k   5 JAMES FISHER NIG. LTD   ₦27,143,392.84k   6 V CARE DIAGNOSTICS LTD ₦14,228,739.99k   7 VENTURE GARDEN NIG LTD ₦72,274,840.07k   8 DOHENEY SERVICE ₦14,292,412.58k   9 NATIVE MEDIA LTD ₦24,105,322.44k   10 NATIVE MEDIA LTD ₦23,496,705.74k   11 SARO AFRICA INT. LTD  ₦24,457,853.33k   12 SHERIFF DEPUTIES LTD ₦132,162,259.74k   13 UNIQUE V. CAPITAL MANAG. LTD ₦12,296,738.69k   14 ALKONES PETROLEUM & GAS LTD  ₦17,746,534.52k   15 CENTURY POWER GENERATION LTD ₦18,057,892.40k   16 GMT ENERGY RESOURCES LTD ₦145,854,724.45k   17 LEADERS & COMPANY LTD ₦67,092,836.87k   18 BI-COURTNEY AVIATION SERVICES  ₦38,701,954.25k   19 HEYDEN PETROLEUM LTD ₦33,223,508.93k   20 BARRY CALLEBALT NIG LTD  ₦33,517,273.20k   21 QUICK MIX LTD ₦18,978,609.46k   22 AMOULA VENTURES LTD ₦15,614,645.80k   23 AA RESCUE  ₦27,815,988.53k   24 COMPASS POWER SOLUTION LTD  ₦22,888,982.58k   25 SODIUM BRAND SOLUTION LTD ₦16,022,719.68k   26 DAAR COMMUNICATION PLC  ₦22,433,482.482.48k 27 PRIMERO TRANSPORT SER. LTD ₦43,401,308.09k   28 TIDDO SECURITIES LTD ₦12,741,792.53k   29 FUNDS & ELECTRONICS TRANSFER   ₦97,833,404.64k 30 DEROTECH INT. LTD ₦12,938,947.07k   31 VALIANT ENERGY SERVICES WEST AFRICA ₦38,151,699.03k   32 THE BULB AFRICA ₦28,223,026.00K   33 ROYAL HERITAGE CENTER FOR LAW & CAPACITY.DEVELOPMENT ₦29,287,598.00k   34 RAYBOND TECHNICAL LTD ₦61,800,695.60k   35 OFFICE LAND LTD ₦13,809,090.63k   36 CENTRE FOR MANAGEMENT. DEVELOPMENT       ₦48,211,875.23k   37 S.O. AND U LTD        ₦38,008,508.15k   38 GBENGA BIOBAKU & CO. ₦16,070,382.79k   39 UNION DIAGNOSTICS & CLINICAL SERVICES      ₦23,617,362.02k   40 EYOWO INTREGRATED PAYMENT    ₦16,201,951.05k   41 FIRST CONS.MEDIA & CENTRE LTD  ₦28,665,445.52k   42 MAGNUMFLO RESOURCES ₦18,570,665.47k   43 DEE-JONES PETROLEUM & GAS ₦55,878,693.74k   44 AMALYA CONSULTS LTD ₦23,914,081.62k   45 COMPACT MANIFOLD & ENGINEERING SERVICES ₦24,974,599.58k   Whereas many tax defaulters who were served with pre-action notice by this office and have paid their tax liabilities will no longer be prosecuted for the breach of the Tax law. Therefore, every tax payer in Lagos State is advised to voluntarily comply with the Tax law particularly on filing of annual tax returns and payment of assessed tax liability to avoid imposition of penalty and interest as well as prosecution with its attendant consequence. Lawal Pedro SAN, FCIArb Hon. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State.

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LAGOS MOJ PARTICIPATES IN UK-LED NON-CUSTODIAL SENTENCING TRAINING

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The Lagos State Ministry of Justice participated in a specialised training on Non-Custodial Sentencing hosted by the United Kingdom Ministry of Justice on Tuesday, 31st March 2026, at the Kingfisher Club, Ikoyi, Lagos. The training, an initiative of the UK Ministry of Justice, forms part of ongoing collaboration between both jurisdictions aimed at strengthening criminal justice administration through knowledge exchange and institutional capacity building. Representing the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, expressed his appreciation to the UK Home Office Team in Nigeria and the UK Ministry of Justice for their continued partnership and commitment to justice sector reforms in Lagos State. Dr. Martins noted that the training comes at a critical time when the State is intensifying efforts to promote alternative sentencing frameworks as a means of decongesting correctional facilities and ensuring a more rehabilitative approach to justice delivery. “This collaboration is both timely and impactful, as it provides practical insights into probation systems, offender management, and non-custodial sentencing options that can be effectively adapted to our local context”. He further commended the facilitators for delivering a comprehensive and insightful training, highlighting the importance of continued engagement and institutional partnerships in achieving sustainable justice sector reforms. In his remarks, he stated that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice remains committed to adopting progressive and internationally recognised best practices in the administration of justice. The training, facilitated by senior UK probation practitioners including; Head of Essex North Probation Service,Mr. David Messam; and Head of Liverpool South Probation Service, Ms. Emma Davies; covered key areas such as probation structure and governance, offender management in the community, non-custodial sentencing options, and support systems within the probation framework in England and Wales. Participants at the training included State Counsel, Magistrates, and Directors in the Ministry, all of whom actively engaged in discussions aimed at strengthening the implementation of non-custodial sentencing in Lagos State.

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LAGOS AG RECEIVES ECAPI ANTI-CRIME GRAND PATRON AWARD, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO STRATEGIC COLLABORATION

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The Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, has reaffirmed the Lagos State Ministry of Justice’s commitment to strengthening strategic collaboration with relevant stakeholders in crime prevention and public safety. Mr. Pedro gave this assurance on Thursday, 2nd April 2026, while receiving the ECAPI Anti-Crime Grand Patron Award from the Eagle Crime Awareness & Prevention Initiative (ECAPI) during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Justice Conference Room, Alausa, Ikeja. The Attorney General expressed appreciation for the recognition, noting that partnerships with civil society organisations remain critical to advancing public awareness, improving access to justice, and enhancing community-based crime approaches to tackling crime. Pedro reiterated the Ministry’s openness to strategic collaborations that will further strengthen the justice system and promote a safer Lagos. Presenting the award, the President and Founder of ECAPI, Amb. Samuel Adam, stated that the honour was conferred in recognition of the Attorney General’s exemplary leadership, unwavering commitment to justice sector reforms, and significant contributions to crime prevention and public safety. He commended Mr. Pedro’s impactful leadership and assured the Ministry of the organisation’s readiness to collaborate in furtherance of shared objectives in crime prevention and public enlightenment.

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PRESS RELEASE – LAGOS FREES 43 INMATES, INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TO DECONGEST AND IMPROVE FACILITIES IN CORRECTIONAL CENTRES

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The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has approved the release of Forty-three (43) inmates from correctional centres across the State as part of ongoing efforts to decongest custodial centres and reform the criminal justice system. It would be recall that few months ago in December 2025, ninety-one (91) inmates were also released from the custodial centres. The decision to release inmates who were yet to complete their terms was taken pursuant to the power of prerogative of mercy, conferred on the Governor in Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The released inmates were duly recommended by the State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy in accordance with established legal and administrative guidelines. The exercise reflects the State Government’s unwavering commitment to upholding justice, fairness and the rule of law, alongside improving conditions within correctional centres by proactively addressing the challenges of overcrowding in custodial centres in Lagos State and ease of mobility of inmates to and from court for speedy trial. In furtherance of this commitment, the Lagos State Government had, in the preceding year, procured and delivered two (2) coaster buses to the Correctional Service to facilitate the timely and secure transportation of inmates to courts. This intervention is designed to enhance the efficiency of criminal trials and reduce delays associated with inmate logistics. In addition, the Government has embarked on the renovation and upgrade of some of the buildings in the correctional centres across the State, thereby strengthening custodial infrastructure. In light of the current Nigeria constitutional provisions, placing custodial and correctional services in the Concurrent Legislative List, it will not be out of place for the Federal Government to direct the Nigeria Correctional Services to transfer the control and management of one of the Correctional centres in Lagos State where the majority of inmates are offenders of State Laws, to Lagos State Government to address the challenges of weak oversight, inadequate funding, lack of transparency and overcrowding in the present Nigerian Correctional Facilities. Lagos State remains resolute in its commitment to justice sector reforms and will continue to implement measures that ensure a balanced approach between victims right to justice, public safety, offenders’ rehabilitation and the protection of fundamental human rights. Lawal Pedro, SANHonourable Attorney-General andCommissioner for Justice, Lagos StateIst April,2026

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