‘Lagos AG’s withdrawal of trial against public interest’

A businessman and hotelier, Hassan Alli, has condemned the discontinuance of the criminal case against a defendant, Moroof Owonla, by the Lagos Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN).

He said the withdrawal of the case from court is in total disregard of the interest of justice and the rule of law.

He also alleged that the AG’s actions showed bias, injustice, and a danger to the Administration of Criminal Law of Lagos State.

He added that it is also against public interest.

The aggrieved businessman said the AG’s publication, defending the action promoted the abuse of the legal process.

He explained that the Police had recommended Owonla for prosecution after diligent investigation, and duplicated the case file for the State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) under the tenure of former Lagos State AG, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN).

According to him, the development led to the DPP issuing legal advice and filing an eight-count charge against Owonla after verifying the facts contained in the case file.

“In a twist of trial, when Pedro assumed office as the State AG, he filed a discountenance of the case in exercising his prosecutorial power of Nolle Prosequi,” he lamented.

The nominal complainant noted that the action is in a clear departure from the provisions of Section 211(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the AG to enter Nolle Prosequi in cases.

He pointed out that the provision of Section 211(3) stated that ‘in exercising his power under this Section, the Attorney General of a State shall have regard to the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process.’

He affirmed that it’s fallacious, untrue and a distortion of material facts to claim that the Investigative Police Officer, who handled the case was petitioned for a bias probe in Alagbon, when the investigation on the case was concluded at the FCID, Police Headquarters, Abuja.