Lagos set to build forensic laboratory

Lagos state government has reiterated its commitment to ensure the use of scientific methods in unraveling crimes by building a forensic laboratory in the state.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem stated this during a three-day Forensic Symposium organised by the state ministry of Justice and ITSI-Biosciences, LLC, Johnstown, USA.

Participants at the event included judges, prosecutors, defence lawyers, police investigators and all those who would use the service of the centre to secure justice for victims.

Kazeem said government has re-energized the criminal justice system to fight sexual violence and gender-based crimes.

Government, according to him would harness an exceptional network of professionals who are well groomed on the need for a scientific process that would ensure that the criminal justice system in the state provides an objective investigative process that enables justice to be done and determines whether it convicts the right person or exonerates an innocent person wrongly accused.

“Let me sound a note of warning to all those who commit crime and most times get away for want of evidence that it will no longer be business as usual when the centre becomes operational. I think they should in fact leave Lagos now because with the DNA, they would be caught and prosecuted”, he said.

President and Chief Scientific Officer, ITSI-Biosciences, USA, Dr. Richard Somiari in his remarks said when the centre becomes operational in the first quarter of next year, it would provide the highest level of DNA results.