The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), on Monday, said the toxicology report and other forensic analysis conducted in the United States on the late singer, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, alias Mohbad, is out.
He said the autopsy report is now with the Lagos State Pathologist, as well as the coroner magistrate.
Pedro revealed this at a press conference while answering questions from journalists on the upcoming strategic stakeholders’ meeting and commemoration of his first year in office, held at the Ministry of Justice Conference Room, Alausa, Ikeja.
He said, “On the Mohbad case, yes, I agree there has been a delay, and the delay is caused by time taken for investigation.
“Forensic, analysis, toxicology, all these are part of the investigation. Full proof investigation that can lead at least to conviction in a case that is presented before the courts.”
The Attorney General explained that the forensic examination would not have been done in the United States if the Lagos DNA and Forensic Centre had not been burnt during the #EndSARS protest of October 2020.
Speaking on the case of a female lawyer, Otike-Odibi, who killed her lawyer husband, Symphorosa Otike-Odibi, and cut off his manhood, the AG said the matter suffered delay because the case file was among documents that got burnt when the Igbosere High Court was burnt by EndSARS protesters, also in 2020.
He further added that the matter had been reassigned to a new judge, Justice Sherifat Sonaike, following the retirement of the trial judge, Justice Adedayo Akintoye.
He, however, said henceforth, no case would be allowed to last more than 24 months in court.
According to him, a bill for the enactment of the Administration of Civil Justice Law had been forwarded to the state House of Assembly for legislative process.
Pedro said that when the bill was passed into law, litigation in trial courts should not last more than 18 to 24 months and tenancy matters between three to six months.
“The idea is to ensure that no tenant owes his landlord or the landlord is ejecting his tenant when a matter is before the court.
“Notices would be given but we would not allow it to be used as an instrument of oppression by either the tenant or landlord,” he said.
He said no tenant would be allowed to go away with his landlord’s money because the matter was in court.
Pedro said that in the Criminal Justice System, delays in DPP legal advice and prosecution had been addressed.
He added that the Lagos State Criminal Information System had been established to capture photographs and biometrics and identify the cases of all inmates in the correctional centres in the state.
Pedro listed other innovations introduced to include the bill for the establishment of the Lis Pendens Registry on land matters.
“The registry aims to serve as a repository of information on land disputes in our courts to prevent instances of purchase of land that is subject to litigation by unsuspecting purchasers without notice.
“This initiative will not only reduce incidents of third-party interests arising from ongoing court cases but also enhance confidence in real-estate investment within the state,” he said.
Pedro disclosed that another Bill being proposed is the Customary Marriage and Dissolution Registry for the registration of customary marriages and dissolution of customary marriages.
He stated that this would give the people of Lagos State the opportunity to have customary marriage certificates and certificates of dissolution of customary marriages.
The AG noted that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had approved funds for the completion and furnishing of the JIC Taylor Magistrate Court House at Igbosere and the payment of 34 flats official quarters for the magistrates.
He announced the upcoming strategic stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
The AG said the meeting would strengthen inter-agency collaboration and improve the enforcement of laws throughout Lagos State.
“This gathering is a direct response to the insights gained from the Lagos Justice Summit held in May, where key stakeholders identified the need for enhanced cooperation and coordination within the justice system.
“One of the summit’s primary recommendations was to convene this strategic meeting to elevate the standards of justice and ensure that justice is not merely an ideal but a tangible reality for all residents of Lagos State.
“The meeting will provide a critical platform for engaging with various stakeholders towards harmonising MDA operations to improve service delivery and reduce government liability exposure in land administration, physical planning and environmental management,” he said.
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