Lagos State Ministry of Justice

    Lagos Hosts Southwest Attorneys- General Meeting

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    Lagos State is hosting the quarterly meeting of South West Attorneys – General which commenced  on Wednesday 24th of November, 2021 A Statement released by the office of the Hon. Attorney- General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN, disclosed that the Hon. Attorneys -General will discuss issues of crucial importance, including the Implementation of Judicial/ Legislature (Financial Autonomy); Laws in South West States; South West States Proposals for the reform of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and other pressing legal  issues The meeting is being attended by Attorneys -General of Ekiti, Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Ondo States. The meeting ends on Friday 26th November 2021.

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    LASG Encourages Victims of Harm To Take Advantage Of Restorative Justice

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    The Directorate of Public Prosecutions in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has urged the general public, especially victims of harm, to take advantage of Restorative Justice(RJ) in the State as it is an alternative to incarceration or statutory punishment for minor offences. The State’s Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs. Olayinka Adeyemi, stated this during an interview session on Lagos Traffic Radio, Ikeja on Tuesday to create awareness about restorative justice for victims and it’s benefits for the society as part of activities lined up to celebrate “Y2021 Restorative Justice Week” She noted that the State’s Ministry of Justice under the leadership of the Commissioner for Justice and attorney-general, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), has continued to ensure speedy dispensation of justice as outlined in the T.H.E.M.E.S development Agenda , which is key to an effective administration of justice in the State. Adeyemi noted that Restorative Justice is about finding a way to establish communication between the offender and the victim. “For offenders, the RJ program offers an opportunity to take responsibility for the harm they have caused and likewise the victims; it aims to reduce the feeling of anger”. Expatiating more on RJ, Adeyemi noted that Restorative Justice seeks to promote and maintain healthy relationship between the offender and victim; respecting and listening to the opinions of the public as people are more likely to forgive when they tell their stories, repairing any harm done by offenders and ensuring that the parties involved in the crime do not go back to cause more harm in the society. In addition, she said the Restorative Justice program will further decongest the courts, correctional facilities and also ensure speedy dispensation of justice in the State. The Coordinator Prison Fellowship Nigeria and Member of the Lagos State Restorative Justice, Mr. Benson Iwuagwu, during the media appearance stated that the Restorative Justice Week has been celebrated annually to acknowledge the impacts and achievements of the RJ approach and its application in Nigeria while Lagos is hosting this year’s edition. “Some of the benefits of Restorative Justice includes enhancing community involvement in the dispute resolution process, helping the victims and offenders live with the burden of offence and preventing re-offending”. Iwuagwu said Restorative Justice Processes have great potential to empower victims and survivors of crimes and offer them closure, stating that RJ can serve victims of different types of crime most especially minor cases. The coordinator also mentioned that the people affected by the crime should be able to take part in the resolution which can also be therapeutic to victims, offenders and the society at large. The Director Public Prosecutions however added that residents can contact the Office of the Attorney General of Lagos State for more information on Restorative Justice.

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    Lagos Commemorates Restorative Justice Week.

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    The Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Justice celebrates this year’s restorative justice week, a week set aside in the third week of November to create awareness about the role and importance of restorative justice practices as it relates to the promulgation of the ethos of justice based on putting victims first as well as giving them a voice.  According to a release signed by the Lagos State Restorative Justice Steering Committee, this year’s event with the theme ” Protect and Empower the Person Harmed” is to create awareness about restorative justice for victims, the benefits it can create for society as well as addressing injustices and harm in a humane way.  This year’s theme is also apt given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on victims of crimes and the justice system according to the statement. Other activities earmark for this year includes sensitisation programmes, community outreach and a webinar for stakeholders which is scheduled for Tuesday, 30th November.  The State is also set to launch the Restorative Justice Centre which will serve as the coordinating hub for RJ referrals. The week is is observed by diverse groups involved in restorative justice including Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), government departments, academic and other stakeholders in the justice system.  Restorative Justice is a method used for dealing with a crime that puts the needs of victims first while the offender takes responsibility for their actions. This practice focuses on addressing conflict through participation and reconciliation. The Lagos State Restorative Justice Steering Committee was established by the State Criminal Justice Reform Committee to create awareness and develop policies as well as an operational framework for implementing Restorative Justice.  In addition to deploying restorative justice as a tool for decongesting correctional facilities across the State, it will also promote peaceful communities, transforms criminal justice system, heals wounds of crime as well as reintegration of offenders.  Members of the Committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Justice; Judiciary, Correctional Service, Police, Prison Fellowship Nig., Multi-door CourtHouse, Citizens Mediation Center(CMC) as well as the academia.

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    OPD Wins Compensation For Wrongful Termination Of Contract Over Health Status

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    OPD Wins Compensation For Wrongful Termination Of Contract Over Health Status The Lagos State government through the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) has won the sum of over Two million naira for a former worker ( name withheld ) of Ocean Marine Solutions Limited, Lagos for wrongful termination of employment, stigmatization, embarrassment, psychological and emotional trauma. The company is also to pay the former staff the sum of One hundred thousand naira as the cost of action. Delivering judgement in the case, Hon. Justice Ikechi Nweneka of the National Industrial Court, Lagos Division said the Defendant ( Ocean Marine  Solutions Limited) did not provide the Claimant with a contract of employment in breach of the Labour Act, and threw  the Claimant into the society without support whatsoever. The court said further that the Defendant showed  flagrant  disregard for the Claimant’s fundamental rights  to privacy, dignity and freedom from discrimination on account of her HIV positive status. There were several attempts at negotiated settlement by the Citizens’ Mediation Centre but it proved abortive  hence OPD waded in and took  legal  action against the company on behalf of the sacked worker. The former worker  was employed by Ocean Marine Solutions Limited as a cleaner in 2017 and in April of 2018, she was directed by the company with other five staff to go for a medical examination at a private medical centre on Victoria Island, Lagos. The company did not inform her of the nature of the medical test and the result was not disclosed to her, but was sent directly to the company upon which the Human Resources and Administrative Managers at various times confronted her and demanded if she had done HIV test during the birth of her children. She responded in the negative and was thereafter directed to go home and take HIV test. Same-day after the directive to go home, she began to receive sympathy, discriminatory and embarrassing messages from her colleagues and was forced to undergo another round of test before being directed not to return to  the office until receipt of the test result. She was not told the nature of the test when she demanded to know and not counselled before it was done. The result was also sent to the company which led to her being locked out of the company’s  premises  by its management and subsequent termination  of her employment. The company in its defence, denied all her claims and said it did not schedule her for HIV test but full medical test. That  a consent form was provided for her by the health facility but because she could not read English, her colleagues filled the form for her and she signed it. The court upheld the worker  submission as presented and argued by  OPD  Counsel and awarded compensation to the Claimant. The Defendant company has since paid the judgment sum through the Office of the Public Defender to the Claimant and the former worker has collected the bank draft in satisfaction of the judgment debt.  Speaking on the case, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the State, Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN lauded the judgement and said days of impunity, unlawful termination of employment contract based on sex discrimination, religion and health status are over in Lagos state while assuring residents of the protection of their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the T.H.E.M.E.S development agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He therefore urged residents of the state to approach the Office of the Public Defender for free legal services.

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    MOJ Mentorship Programme

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    As part of our commitment towards enhancing capacities of young lawyers, the Ministry of Justice launched its Mentorship Programme, with 75 young State Counsel matched to Senior Lawyers. The Mentorship Programme which spans for 12 months will provide a great opportunity for State Counsel (Mentees) to connect with a Mentor who can inspire, advice and support the Mentees to build their career, enhance their leadership skills and in turn become excellent legal professionals. Our Mentors have been selected based on their depth of knowledge, sterling character and the impactful leadership capabilities attained in their field of work over the years. I therefore seize this opportunity to thank all our Mentors for partnering with the Ministry of Justice and we are excited to see the mentorship outcomes which will evolve from this initiative. All the best to our Mentees!

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    Stakeholder’s Meeting with MDAs Working With Ministry Of Justice

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    In an effort to foster a better work relationship and enhance synergy between MDA’s working with Ministry of Justice in order to achieve prompt and effective dispensation of Justice in Lagos State, the Ministry of Justice on Friday, held an interactive session with MDA’s to dialogue on areas and issues of inter- Ministerial collaboration. The Stakeholders meeting with MDA’s which held at Adeyemi- Bero Auditorium ,Alausa had in attendance, Hon. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice , Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN); Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey, Permanent  Secretaries of Ministeries and heads of agencies working with the Ministry of Justice,  Directors of the Ministry of Justice and other dignitaries.

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    OPD’s Governing Council pays a visit to the Attorney General

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    Today, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN received in his office at Alausa the Chairman and Board Members of Governing Council, Office of Public Defender (OPD) on a courtesy visit to assess the operating modality of OPD. The Governing Council which was inaugurated in August 2020 by Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu comprises of Mrs. Bola Tinubu (chairman), Ayo Olusanwo, Busola Akinbiyi, Babajide Badmos and Dr. Babajide Martins. The Chairman, Governing Council Office Public Defender,  Mrs. Bola Tinubu commended the dedication and passion of the members of staff of the Office Public Defender in providing free legal service to all residents of the Lagos State. Towards attaining the council’s mandate of  ensuring access to justice for all residents at no cost to them, the board members assessed the challenges faced by the office, solutions and discussed  the need to take the Office of Public Defender (OPD) to a higher level of performance with the new reform initiatives.

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    Lagos Ministry of Justice Receives Nasarawa State Attorney General And His Team

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    …to understudy operations of Lagos MOJ Today, the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN received at his office at Alausa, Ikeja, the Honorable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Nasarawa State, Dr. Abdulkarim Kana  and his  team from Nasarawa State Ministry of Justice, on a one-day working visit to understudy the operations of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice. The Nasarawa delegation was warmly received by the Lagos State Attorney General and his team comprising the Solicitor General and  Permanent Secretary, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey, Director Public Prosecution, Mrs. Olayinka Adeyemi, Director Citizen’s Mediation Centre, Mrs. Abiola Oseni amongst other top Directors of the Ministry. The Attorney General Nasarawa State, Dr. Abdulkarim A. Kana during the visit sought for better collaboration between the two ministries to ensure an effective administration of Justice in the Country.

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    LASG Takes Witness Support Campaign to Bariga Residents

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    As part of efforts to ensure speedy dispensation of Criminal Justice in the State, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions Lagos State of Ministry of Justice, on Thursday sensitized the residents of Bariga LCDA on the importance of witnesses during court proceedings and the needed support available for them. The Deputy Director, Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Ms. Adetutu Oshinusi assured the residents of the State Government’s unwavering support for witnesses through the Witness Support Unit. Ms. Oshinusi said the Witness Support Unit was established under the Directorate of Public Prosecutions a few years ago, to  provide support to victims of crime and to ensure their protection from external forces. She added that the lackadaisical attitudes of residents towards crimes committed around them has led to an upsurge in  crime in the State and country at large. “We are all guilty of the increased rate of crimes in our community and State on daily basis as we turn deaf ears to things happening around us as a result of fear” she said. The Director, however, urged the resident to be courageous in reporting crimes to the Police as good citizens and credible witnesses towards ensuring  appropriate punishment under the law, is given to perpetrators of such Crimes. While responding to a question on the safety of Witnesses, Ms. Oshinusi noted that the Witness Support Unit collaborates with other government agencies to provide needed support to witnesses especially children and the vulnerable in the Community. “The witness support unit provides witnesses with numerous support as needed, ranging from psychosocial, financial to security, especially for Witnesses of assaults, defilement, rape, armed robbery amongst others” , she said. Also speaking at the sensitization programme, a Deputy -Director in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Adesola Adekunle -Bello urged residents to shun all forms of intimidation as the unit will provide adequate protection to all witnesses during and after court proceedings. She added that all communication line  between witnesses and the support unit is confidential. Mrs. Adekunle-Bello noted that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu is keen on ensuring the effective administration of Criminal Justice in the State towards creating a crime-free environment for all. While commending the initiative of the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN, the Chairman Bariga LCDA, Hon. Alabi Kolade David assured that the Witness Support Sensitization Campaign will be taken to all Bariga residents inorder to attain a safe and peaceful community. Likewise, the Baale of Obanikoro, High Chief Kabiru Braimoh who applauded the State Government’s efforts in bringing Justice closer to the people through the Witness Support Sensitization Campaign implored  the Ministry of Justice on the need to establish annex offices at all LCDA and LGA’s in the State .

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    Avocats Sans Frontier, France pays a visit to the Lagos State Ministry of Justice

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    Today, the Hon. Attorney-General/ Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN received in his office at Alausa, Ikeja on Wednesday, May 5th, 2021 a delegation from Avocats Sans Frontier, France ( An international Solidarity Organization created to strengthen the rule of law and access to Justice for the most vulnerable people) During the courtesy visit, the delegation led by Country Director, Angela Uzoma- Iwuchukwu  requested a continuous synergy between Avocats Sans Frontier and the State Government inorder to:  Promote easy access to justice for vulnerable who sometimes suffer arbitrarily detention  or torture from Law Enforcement Agencies. Also, the organization defends the rights of any persons who may have been deprived of their independence or abused in the exercise of their function. While responding to the requests of Avocats Sans Frontier,  the Attorney- General noted that the State is committed to upholding the rule of law and also protect the right of the citizenry, most especially the vulnerable ones in the society. He reiterated that the State Government has zero -tolerance for any form of extra- judicial ill-treatment of residents by Security Personnel. The Commissioner promised that the State Government will continue to collaborate with Stakeholders and Organizations to ensure effective and efficient administration of Justice in the State.

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