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 Police
Force, 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, including
witness 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 persons
c. 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 were
rejected. 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 did
not 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 Authority
deemed 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 to
the 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.

CONCLUSION
In 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 case to the Press is not for the cause of justice but for reasons not disclosed and attempt to denigrate the Ministry on this matter is most unfortunate.

The Lagos State Ministry of Justice reiterates its unwavering commitment to:
1.The rule of law,
2.The sanctity of human life, and
3.The fair, impartial, and evidence-based prosecution in the administration of criminal justice.

Lawal Pedro SAN, FCIArb.
Honourable Attorney General And Commissioner for Justice.

24th April, 2026