Principal Officers
Mr. Lawal Pedro (S.A.N)
Mr. Lawal Pedro SAN was appointed as the Attorney General and Commissioner for the Ministry
of Justice, Lagos State, on the 13th of September, 2023. He is a seasoned Nigerian lawyer and
a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) with a wealth of experience in Civil & Criminal Law, Property
Law, Employment Law, and Aviation Law.
He obtained his law degree from Ahmadu Bello University in 1985 and was called to the Bar in
1986 after completing the requisite studies at the Nigerian Law School. He gained brief
experience in private practice for about two years before joining the public service.
Mr. Pedro joined the Lagos State Ministry of Justice in December 1987 and worked in various
directorates. He became the Director of Civil Litigation in 2006, a position he held until he was
appointed the Solicitor General of Lagos State and Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State
Ministry of Justice in April 2008.
In the same year 2008, he was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of
Nigeria (SAN). Being the first State Counsel in Lagos State and in any other State Public or Civil
Service in the Federation of Nigeria to be conferred with the rank.
He also served as head of prosecution for high-profile criminal cases in Lagos State between
2008 and 2015. In this capacity, he diligently prosecuted numerous high-profile cases up to the
Supreme Court.
Mr. Lawal Pedro SAN is a member of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) International Bar Association
(IBA), Fellow Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria (FCIArb) and an accredited Mediator.
He is an author of various prominent published law books such as:
• Jurisdiction of Courts in Nigeria (Cases & Materials).
• Nigeria’s Quest for Egalitarian Federalism.
• Contemporary Issues in Nigeria Constitutional Law (Contributor).
• Supreme Court of Nigeria (History, Establishment, Jurists and Speeches).
Titilayo Shitta-Bey
Ms. Khadijat Titilayo Shitta-Bey was appointed the Solicitor General and permanent secretary on Friday, 16th August, 2019, she was formerly Director of Public Prosecutions in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
She attended Epe Grammar School, Epe before proceeding to St Aldates College, Oxford in the United Kingdom where she obtained her “O” Levels and “A” levels Certificates respectively.
She is an alumnus of Wolverhampton University, West Midlands, where she obtained her LLB Hons. She holds an LLM in Corporate & Commercial Laws from Kings College, University of London, Strand, United Kingdom and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1989.
Ms Shitta – Bey’s started her professional career at B.A Shitta – Bey & Co, a Law Firm that specializes in General Litigation, Land and Chieftaincy matters.
She joined the Lagos State Ministry of Justice in 1994 as a State Counsel in the department of Civil Litigation and Advisory services and worked in several other directorates including the Directorate of Civil Litigation. As She rose through the rank to be the Director of Commercial Law, and Later Director of Public Prosecutions until her appointment as Solicitor- General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice.
In the course of her career in the Ministry of Justice, has served in various inter – Ministerial capacities including; Registrar, Lagos State Bills of Sale, Secretary /Legal Adviser Lagos State Public Procurement Agency; Counsel to Panel of Inquiry on the Sale of Lagos State Government shares in Eko Hotel, Counsel to Panel of Inquiry on Ikorodu Fire Disaster, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Counsel to Committee on Lekki Epe Expressway Expansion; Editing Reporter, Lagos State High Court Judgments Law Report, member Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme Committee to mention a few.
She attended several courses and Conferences including Building Trial Skills an Advocacy Training, Drafting and Negotiating Contracts for Government officials, Negotiation Skills for lawyers, Professional Development Programme for lawyers, Project Financing- BPP Professional education, Housing Finance Workshop for Sub – Saharan Africa. AMERICAN GOVT INVITATION TRAINING, internal visitors leadership programme(IVLP) 3weeks programme sponsored by the US Department of States to understudy administration of justice system and maintenance of rule of Law in the United states. attended in March 2019
She enjoys reading, listening to music and dancing. She is happily married.
Babajide Martins
Dr. Jide Martins is a Legal Luminary, a Progressive and Seasoned Technocrat, a Human Rights Advocate, a Passionate and Relentless Worker in the Temple of Justice.
He is a graduate of University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990 and is also a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales.
Dr. Martins graduated with Master in Law, LLM in European Management and Employment Law and Master of Business Administration (MBA) respectively from the University of Leicester, England. He thereafter bagged a PhD in Constitutional law from Birkbeck College, University of London.
Dr. Martins until his appointment as the new DPP, he was the Director of the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender an agency saddled with the mandate of ensuring that every resident of Lagos State has equal access to justice. Prior to joining the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Dr. Martins had worked in England as a Crown Prosecutor and at Blackburn Borough Council in England, where his practice included Criminal Prosecution, Civil Litigation, Employment Law, Youth Justice and Safeguarding.
A Versatile Facilitator who has conducted, presented papers and served as a discussant at the National Judicial Institute and Lagos State Judiciary legal week. He has also conducted several trainings on Criminal Justice Administration to Police Officers, Magistrates and Customary Court Judges. He is an ardent advocate of Restorative Justice and Mediation in Criminal Matters.
He is an advocate of a fair and just Criminal Justice system and was a member of the committee that drafted the Lagos State Sentencing guidelines. He has served as the Liasion Officer on the European Union funded Rule of Law and Anti- corruption Programme administered by the British Council in Lagos state. He is also currently the Liasion Officer for the Ministry of Justice on the German GIZ Programme for support for the Criminal Justice Administration.
He has served as Special Assistant on Criminal Prosecutions to two former Lagos State Attorney Generals and was formerly a Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, before his recent appointment as Director of Office of Public Defender.
Dr. Martins is a current member of the Lagos State Biosecurity Board.
Abiola Adewunmi Adeyinka
Mrs. Abiola Adeyinka is an efficient, focused and dedicated legal practitioner with a broad background in Litigation, Mediation and Research. She ia a great team player, possesses the ability to work efficiently independently and can also work under pressure with minimal supervision. She possesses a good communication skills, experience and empathy for people, which has helped her to produce excellent work ethics.
Her primary objective is to serve in a challenging environment effectively, with integrity and hard work, which has enabled her, contribute to the success of the organization.
She is skillful in the area of bill preparation, Legal opinion and brief writing, Criminal law practice, Civil litigation practice, Corporate practice, Property law practice, Family law practice, Mediation and Efficient researcher.
Mrs. Adeyinka is a member of the International Bar Association, the Nigerian Bar Association respectively and a Chartered Mediator.
She began her career in the State Civil Service in the year 2000 as a State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice and has since rose up in her career to the Director Cadre until her deployment to the Lagos State Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI) as The Head of the Institute in August 2022.
In her leisure, Mrs Abiola Adeyinka loves reading, writing and singing.
Mrs. Adeyinka is happily married with children.
Shakirat Karimu-Kotun
Hakirat Karimu-Kotun, is an indigene of Lagos State. She attended Secondary School at Holy Child College, Ikoyi, Lagos. Thereafter, she travelled to the United Kingdom, where she obtained her Law Degree, from University of London.
She obtained a Masters Degree in Law, specializing in Criminology and Criminal Justice Matters, from King’s College, University of London. Still yearning for knowledge, Ms. Kotun, a mother, obtained a Masters Degree in Social Work, specializing in Children and Family Services. She is a Therapist and a qualified Counselor. Ms. Kotun has worked both in the Legal Profession and in Social Services, especially in matters related to Child Abuse and Neglect, Domestic Violence, Child Custody Cases, and Adoption. Additionally, she works with the Prison Population. Ms. Kotun currently is The Director of Community Service Sentencing Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, where offenders sentenced to community service by courts, are monitored. She is a Certified Mediator, and a Mandated Reporter on Abuse matters.
Ms. Kotun is the author of a number of books including The Emancipation and Experiences of An African Princess; Inspirational Writings and Poems; and Inner Peace. She enjoys Poetry, Writing and watching T.V.
Umul-Kulthum Ninilomo Bashar
The confirmation of Mrs. Bashar was conveyed through a letter dated 18th February, 2021 by the Office of the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri- Okunola.
Mrs. Bashar until her appointment was the Head of Legal Unit, Law Reform Commission since August, 2020.
She joined the Lagos State Civil Service on 22nd of May, 2009 as a Chief State Counsel and was later deployed to the Directorate of Commercial Law where she rose to become the Head of Department.
While at the Directorate of Commercial Law, Mrs. Bashar was involved in drafting commercial agreements for high profile projects for the State.
She was also appointed the Registrar Bill of Sales Registry in November, 2012. In the same Month she was appointed Legal Researcher (Business Matters) on the Lagos State Government/Institute for Liberty and Democracy Informal Sector Reform Programme.
She was deployed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in June 2019 where she headed the Legal Unit
Mrs Umul-Kulthum Ninilomo Bashar was born on the 30th of October, 1964 to the Agoro Family of Idumota, Lagos and Salvador Family of Tokunbo Street, Campus, Lagos.
She attended Corona School , Yaba (Now at Gbagada) for her primary education from 1967-1975 and proceeded to Methodist Girls High School, Yaba for her Secondary Education between 1975 and 1980.
Mrs. Bashar did her A’ Levels at Queens College, Onike, Yaba from 1980-1982 and obtained her LL.B from University of Lagos, Yaba in 1986. She was called to the Nigerian Bar on the 22nd of October 1987. She returned to University of Lagos where she obtained her Masters Degree in 1996.
Mrs Bashar is happily married and blessed with children.
Abiola Oseni
Mrs Abiola Oseni, She had her Primary School education at Holy Child College, Lagos, from where she moved to the Federal Government College, Lagos for her Secondary School education. In 1986, she graduated from the University of Lagos, Akoka, with a degree in Law and an LLM in 1990 from the same University.
Her career in the Lagos State Civil Service started with her appointment in 1994. Since then, she has served in various departments in the Ministry of Justice namely: Civil Litigation, Public Prosecution and Legislative Drafting, from where she was deployed to Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) from where she was appointed, Director, Commercial Law, Ministry of Justice.