Lagos MOJ

Sanwo-Olu Charge Law Officers to Demonstrate Professionalism and Civility

Posted on November 4, 2022

BY OKEDARA BANKALE The Lagos State government has charged Law enforcement Officers to show professionalism and be civil in their interactions with the public. Mr. Governor, Olusola Sanwo-Olu ably represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat said this at the Y2022 Mandatory Training exercise, Passing out Parade for law enforcement Officers at Lagos State law enforcement training Institute (LETI), Magodo recently. Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that this administration is irrevocably committed to upholding the tenets of the rule of Law and therefore will not Condone any form of harassment, arbitrariness, extortion from any of its law Enforcement Officers. He Further said, the Government will continue to strengthen the capacity of the law Enforcement Officers with the appropriate gadgets and equipment that will enhance their efficiency and effectiveness while also promoting accountability and transparency. Moreover, he urged all Lagosian to continue to be law abiding and support and protect men and Officers of law enforcement agencies in order to serve them better. In the same vein, the Head of LETI, Mrs. Abiola Adeyinka in her words, congratulated the Officers from the Agencies on the occasion of the passing out and added that training is important and necessary because it represent a good opportunity and privilege for staff to grow their knowledge base and improve their job skills to become effective and efficient in the work place. Mrs. Adeyinka laud the Lagos state investment committed to this training as worth while and its impact has become measurable by responses from the public. She said the recent positive development in the area of security have shown that despite the challenges, we can see a great light at the end of the tunnel and so, our dear Lagos is certainly poised for a new lease of life. Present at the law Enforcement passing-out-parade were dignitaries and members of the Nigeria Army, Police command and Directors of Agencies.

LASG Reiterates Commitment to Child Rights Law

Posted on November 4, 2022

Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to the greater awareness of children’s rights in the State which is in line with the “THEMES” agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Administration. Director, Citizen Rights, Ms. Adetutu Oshinusi disclosed this while speaking at the sensitization program held on Wednesday at Eva Adelaja Girls Senior Secondary School, Bariga and Ajayi Crowther Memorial Senior Grammar School, Bariga. Speaking at both gatherings, the Director noted that the sensitization program is in furtherance to the “One Stop Child Justice Centre” an initiative of Directorate of Citizens Right (DCR), Lagos State Ministry of Justice, to reduce the spate of child abuse in the State and ensure that minors are protected from abuse and abusers. The Director stated that the State Government in collaboration with Ministry of Justice, is fully committed to promoting and advancing the rights of children. “We believe in the best interest of the child as the first and paramount consideration. We believe in the rights of our children to non-discrimination; to assurance of their best interests; to survival, development and protection; and to participation and self-expression” Oshinusi added that the State Government will continue to enhance the protection and support for vulnerable children through sensitization programs and campaigns. She reassured participants that this present administration has all it takes to safeguard the rights of children in the state and ensuring the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of all forms of child abuse in the society”. Principal Social Welfare Officer, DCR, Mr. Henry Adedeji, emphasized on the importance of sensitizing schools in the state as this will further ensure that students are aware of their basic human rights, the laws that protect them and the adeptness to know specific agencies to report matters, whenever their rights is being infringed upon. Responding, the Principal, Eva Adelaja Girls Senior Secondary School, Mrs. Soyoye Oluyinka, expressed profound gratitude to the Lagos State Government and Ministry of Justice for promoting and bringing awareness of the Child Rights Law to the school, while urging participants on the need to do much more to ensure that no child is left behind in any part of the sensitization process and also making certain that students will continue to be monitored and guided on their rights as citizens of the State.

ACJMC to Understudy Lagos Restorative Justice System

Posted on October 26, 2022

The Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC), Federal, recently visited the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to understudy the Lagos Restorative Justice System (RJC) at the State’s Secretariat, Alausa. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 3day meeting,Lagos Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN ably represented by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-bey noted that the Lagos State Restorative Justice Programme is the brain-child of the Criminal Justice Sector Reform Committee aimed at improving the Criminal Justice delivery system by taking minor offences and misdemeanors off the dockets of the criminal courts. Onigbanjo added that a Restorative Justice Sterering Committee was set up in 2017 to organize trainings for volunteer restorative justice members and facilitators who will conduct victim/offender mediation and make appropriate recommendations as to how these cases will be resolved amicably. The Attorney General assured participants that the programme will take everyone through the Legal Framework of the Committee and the inter-relationship between the Police and the Office of the DPP in Restorative Justice Process. The Coordinator, Lagos Restorative Justice Centre, Mrs. Adenike Oluwafemi expressed gratitude to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary and the ACJMC team led by the Executive Secretary, Mr. Sulayman Dawodu for the success of the program and looked forward to the establishment of the Restorative Justice Centre in the FCT, Abuja.

PRESS RELEASE

Posted on October 26, 2022

RE: BUDGET DEFICIT: GOVERNMENT MAY SELL TBS, NIPPs, 25 KEY ASSETS. The attention of Lagos State Government has been drawn to news report in the front page of Punch Newspaper dated 21st October, 2022 that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning is planning to either sell or grant concession in respect of Tafawa Balewa Square situate in Lagos Island, Lagos State. The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF) must be aware that the position of Federal Government to either sell or concession the Tafawa Balewa Square cannot be valid as the HAGF is the Plaintiff in Suit No. SC.508/2012 between Attorney General of the Federation vs. Attorney General of Lagos State pending before the Supreme Court wherein the HAGF is seeking for declaration that the ownership of the land, building, monuments structures and fixtures better known as Tafawa Balewa Square in the city of Lagos is vested in the Federal Government. The Suit is fixed for 1st November, 2022 for hearing by the apex Court. Unfortunately this is the second time the Federal Government and its Agencies have taken this position. Which is quite contrary to the recognition that there is an existing and pending dispute between the parties in relation to the ownership of the Tafawa Balewa Square and this resulted in the HAGF invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to seek resolution of the dispute between the Federal Government and Lagos State Government. In response to the Federal Government’s first attempt to circumvent the matter pending at the Supreme Court, on the 17th of June, 2021 the Lagos State Government took out an advertorial in the Punch Newspaper to refute the allegation of Federal Government and its Agencies to ownership of the Tafawa Balewa Square. A copy of the advertorial is attached for ease of reference. It is the position of law that once parties have submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of court they are not take to any action that will affect the subject matter of the Suit and any plan to either sell or concession the Tafawa Balewa Square during the pendency of the Suit before the Supreme Court will violate the principle of lis pendis and such sale or concession is liable to be declared null and void. As the Chief Law Officer of the Federation it is incumbent on your office to advise the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget And National Planning and Bureau of Public Enterprises that no such sale or concession in respect of Tafawa Balewa Square is to be embarked upon until the Suit instituted by your office in the Supreme Court is determined. Signed Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN Honourable Attorney General And Commissioner For Justice, Lagos State 26th October, 2022

Know Your Rights: LASG Counsel Pupils

Posted on October 25, 2022

Lagos State Government has called on school pupils in the State to ensure they know their rights as citizens and be ready to defend themselves when it’s been infringed upon. The Director of Directorate for Citizens Right, Ministry of Justice, Ms. Adetutu Oshinusi disclosed this recently at a sensitization program for students of the Ijegun community primary school. The sensitization campaign is in furtherance to the One Stop Child Justice Centre, an initiative of Lagos State Ministry of Justice to reduce the spate of child abuse in the State and ensure that minors are protected from abuse and abusers. Ms. Oshinusi stated that there is a solid framework for the fundamental human rights of the young pupils and they have enough protection against all forms of abuses in the Nigerian Constitution. “The One Stop Child Justice Centre’, handles all child-related matters which is in collaboration with other Departments, Agencies and Ministries such as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, amongst others” “The Directorate of Citizens Right will continue to go the whole haul to protect the rights of children as provided under the Child Rights Law of Lagos State, 2015” “It is imperative that you all must be encouraged to report cases of abuses whether it has happened to you or someone you know.” The Director further reiterated that the sensitization program is about enlightening the pupils to know what thier rights are and this privilege will also be extended to other schools across the State. The Head Teacher Community Primary School 11, Mrs. Abosede Kowe, commended the Lagos State government for the program which is of great benefits to both students and teachers of the school while noting that the school will continue to enlighten its pupils on their rights as citizens of Lagos State.

Lagos Orders Coroner’s Inquest into Death of Bimbo Ogbona

Posted on October 25, 2022

The Lagos State Government has ordered a coroner’s inquest to ascertain the cause of death in the case of the late Bimbo Ogbonna who allegedly died recently as a result of severe fire injuries. The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN ) gave the directive recently noting that thorough investigation will be carried out to ascertain the cause if death. “A Coroner’s Inquest has immediately been requested , in line with section 14 and 15 of the Coroners’ Systems Law, Laws of Lagos State 2015, to determine the cause and circumstances of death. By Section 14(1)(d) of the Coroners’ System Law of the State: “A report of death shall be made to any of the agencies for the report of death or the office of the Coroner and be subject to post-mortem examination where there is reasonable cause to believe that the cause of death was: violent, unnatural or suspicious.” Section 15(1) and (9) further enjoins the Coroner to hold an inquest whenever he or she is informed that the death of the deceased person was in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation or believes an inquest is desirable following the report of a reportable death. The commissioner noted that as a government, the security and wellbeing of citizens are of utmost importance while assuring the public that everything will be done to ensure that the cause of death is known. “The findings of this investigation will be made public in due course and appropriate sanctions meted out to anyone found culpable”. The Attorney General also charged the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) to assist the Police and other law enforcement agencies in investigating the case and ascertaining the cause of death of the late Bimbo Ogbonna which which had attracted wide media attention. The Executive Secretary, Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Mrs. Titilola Vivour Adeniyi also reiterated the State government’s resolve to ensure perpetrators of Sexual and Gender Based Violence crimes are brought to face the full wrath of the law and urged residents to report cases of domestic and Sexual Violence cases to the DSVA office in Alausa Ikeja or call the toll free number 08000333333 (24/7).

MOJ Appoints Oluwafemi Adenike As Coordinator RJC

Posted on October 7, 2022

The Deputy Director, Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs. Oluwafemi Adenike Olubunmi has been appointed as the Coordinator Restorative Justice Centre (RJC), Lagos State Ministry of Justice. A memo signed by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary Ms. Titilayo Shitta-bey on Tuesday, states that her appointment takes immediate effect.

PRESS RELEASE

Posted on October 5, 2022

LASG APPEALS AGAINST LASTMA JUDGMENT The Lagos State Government on the 30th day of September, 2022 filed a Notice of Appeal containing four (4) grounds of appeal against the judgment of Honourable Justice Olalekan Oresanya delivered on 22nd day of September, 2022 wherein the Court held that LASTMA could not impose fines and tow vehicles without an Order of Court of competent jurisdiction. The State Government reviewed the judgment and dissatisfied with same, has exercised its constitutional right of appeal by filing a Notice of Appeal on the 30th day of September, 2022. An application for Stay of Execution of the judgment has also been filed. Consequently, members of the public are therefore advised to be law abiding and ensure compliance with relevant Laws of the State. SIGNED HAMEED OYENUGA Director of Civil Litigation Lagos State Ministry of Justice. 5th October,2022

Prerogative Of Mercy: Sanwo-Olu Approves Release Of 46 Inmates.

Posted on September 30, 2022

…Committal Of 6 Death Roll Inmates to Life Imprisonment. Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu on the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy has approved the release of 46 inmates from various correctional facilities across the State and the commuttal of 6 inmates on death roll to life imprisonment. The Governor signed the release and commuttal orders on the 28th of September, 2022 in cognizance of the country’s 62nd Independence Day Celebration. The exercise is in pursuant to the provisions of Section 212 (1) (2) of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (amended). The Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy in reaching its recommendations exercised due diligence in its deliberation of the applications in line with the applicable guidelines. The Council took note of the information provided by the correctional authorities, the nature of offence, period of incarceration, age, health and behavioral conduct of the inmates. The approval for the release of the inmates is in line with the commitment of Mr. Governor to decongest correctional facilities in Lagos State as part of the Justice Sector Reforms.

Honourable Attorney General, Lagos State Begins Electronic Signing Of Title Documents

Posted on September 27, 2022

The Lagos State Government under the leadership of Mr Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu in a bid to foster ease of doing business in Lagos State has through the Lands Bureau sorted, merged, scanned, indexed and digitised the files used in processing title documents in the State. On Thursday, 22 September 2022, the first set of electronic title documents designed via Aumentum application and hosted on Electronic Geographical Information System (EGIS) Platform were signed by the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN.