Lagos committee blames non-lawyer prosecutors for professional misconduct
Mrs. Rukayat Owolabi, member of the committee (Left); Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), Lagos State Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Fola Author-Worrey (chairman), Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey, Solicitor-General & Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Justice and Mrs. Arinola Momoh-Ayokanmbi (member) at the presentation of report by the Advisory Committee on lay prosecutor at the Magistrate Courts in Lagos.<br />
The Chairman of the Lagos Advisory Committee on Police Prosecution, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey has said that over 15,000 cases were pending due to unprofessional practices of some prosecutors in the state.
He said the committee also reviewed the competence of the non-lawyers in the prosecution of criminal cases in Magistrate courts.
Arthur-Worrey stated this when the committee inaugurated by Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) to review police prosecution of criminal matters in Magistrate courts presented its report.
The committee was inaugurated following calls from some non-governmental organizations challenging the right of the police in prosecuting criminal cases in Magistrate Courts. This led to the inauguration of the advisory committee on January.
During the inauguration, Onigbanjo had disclosed that the advisory committee was given a one-month ultimatum to review the Police Prosecution power and provide recommendations accordingly.
The AG also commended the committee’s timely intervention and selfless service to actualize the set goals of the review.
He stated that the recommendations presented by the committee will aid the state government in planning to bring substantial change to the administration of justice in Lagos State.
He disclosed that stakeholders involved in prosecution also participated in the review to achieve a balanced and accurate report.
As part of its engagement with all spectrum of society in the State, about three weeks ago the committee held a Public Stakeholders meeting at Ikeja, where senior members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) which included Mr Femi Falana (SAN), Dr Muiz Banire (SAN) and others, made important contributions and recommendations to the committee.
Other members of the seven-member Advisory Committee include Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN) – Member, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey (Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice) – Member Mr. Yhaqub Oshoala (Director, Public Prosecutions) – Member, DSP- Yetunde Cardoso, O/C Legal Dept, Criminal Investigation, Yaba, Lagos. – Member Mr. Bayo Akinlade, NBA Ikorodu Chairman- Member Mrs. Rukayat Owolabi – Member Mrs. Arinola Momoh-Ayokanmbi – Secretary.
Others included representatives of the state Judiciary, police, legal aid associations and local government branches of the NBA.
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