The attention of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice, Lagos State has been drawn to an online reporting alleging that a teenager and adult were kept in custody over allegation of pair of slippers similar to that of the nominal complainant. It is important that the record be set straight to correct the misrepresentation by the report.

The defendants were charged with the offence of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery and Armed Robbery contrary to Sections 299 and 297 (2) of the Criminal Law Ch. 17, Vol. 3, Law of Lagos State, 2015. By Information dated 31st May 2023 the case was initially assigned to My Lord, Honourable Justice Coker of the Ikeja High Court before it was re-assigned to Honourable Justice O.H Oshodi of the Ikeja High Court, Lagos in October, 2025 following Justice Coker’s national assignment as trial was yet to commence before Honourable Justice Coker before the case was re-assigned.

Thereafter, the defendants’ plea was taken on 13th October, 2025 and matter slated for trial on 10th December, 2025. The witnesses listed as contained in the proof of evidence are; 1) Daniel Lucky Danjuma (Complainant) and two Investigative Police Officers- ASP Dolapo and Inspr. Omozuafo Martins.

Despite several calls made to the Complainant to testify in Court, the prosecuting team was unable to secure his attendance as his phone was unreachable. The Prosecution commenced trial with a sole witness Inspr. Omozuafo Martins of the Ikeja division who testified and on 10th December, 2025 stating how the complainants made the arrest of the defendants and brought them to the Police Station.

According to the statement of the complainant, himself and his friend on the 27th of November, 2022 boarded a one chance bus and the driver of the bus finally allowed them alight from the vehicle at National Bus-Stop close to Oshodi. The complainant thereafter stated that he was robbed of his phone (Iphone 13 pro max) and his gold chain by some boys who attacked him using cutlass, gun and charm at about 10.30 pm. The next day, the Complainant started visiting the place he was robbed the night before and found one of the men wearing his palm slippers and that was how he knew he was one of his attackers, before taking the 1st and 2nd defendants Ikeja Police Station.

When the efforts to secure another witness failed the prosecution closed its case and the defendants through their counsel brought a no case submission. Both the defence and prosecution filed their written address, adopted same and judgment delivered on 29th September, 2026 in favour of the defendants wherein the Court upheld the No – Case Submission and the defendants were discharged.

The nominal complainant who identified the defendants as part of the gang that attacked him did not come to court to testify in this case as such the evidence to link the defendants with the crime was unavailable. The failure of complainant to attend Court underscore the importance of the facts that Prosecution cannot manufacture evidence except the general public performs their part by actively being interested in the outcome of criminal infractions reported at the Police Stations.

It is therefore not true that the defendants were detained because of pair of slippers but were alleged to have robbed the nominal complainant with dangerous weapons. The prosecutorial authority of the Honourable Attorney General as provided in the Constitution will continue to be exercised in the interest of general public, justice and to prevent abuse.

Mr Adebayo Haroun
Director of Public Prosecutions, Lagos State Ministry Of Justice.
2nd October, 2026.