Lagos prosecutes 185 cases in three magistrates districts in 60 days

The Lagos State Government has prosecuted about 185 cases within the months of March and April 2020.

The trials were held in three magisterial districts of Ogba, Ebute-Meta and Ikorodu.

This is contained in the monthly report of district prosecutors released on Wednesday by the state’s Ministry of Justice.

The report stated that prosecution of 185 cases were approved after been filtered by the district prosecutors assigned to Ikorodu, Ogba, and Ebutte -Metta magistrate courts.

The creation of District Prosecutors on March 3, 2020 as a sub-unit under the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) to operate in a pilot scheme involving three magisterial areas of the State.

The creation of the unit was part of the recommendations of the Fola Arthur-Worrey led Advisory Committee which reviewed Police prosecutorial power in magistrate courts.

The committee was inaugurated in January, 2020 by the State Attorney General/ Commissioner for Justice.

The committee had recommended the establishment of a sub-unit of the DPP office in three Magistrate Courts to filter charges presented by Investigating Police Officers (IPOs) to the magistrate courts.

It added that the involvement of the sub -unit of the DPP’s office would ensure that cases presented by the IPO meet the evidential threshold required by the law.

It will be recalled, that the Attorney General/ Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) while receiving the report of the Arthur- Worrey Committee, had said; “the operations of the district prosecutors would enhance speedy prosecution of cases before the court.

“It would also ensure the striking out of cases that disclose no prima facia evidence of offense committed.”

He added that the district prosecutors would henceforth, take over the prosecution of severe and grievous criminal matters before the courts.