Lagos Attorney-General Rejects Claims of Shielding Owode Onirin Killers, Cites Lack of Evidence
The Lagos State Government has denied allegations that it is protecting suspects linked to the killing of six traders at Owode Onirin, insisting that its decision not to prosecute was based strictly on insufficient evidence.
In a statement on Friday, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), described a report accusing the state of shielding the suspects as “false, misleading, and unsupported by facts.”
He explained that the decision followed a detailed review of case materials submitted by the Lagos State Police Command regarding the August 27, 2025, incident involving Inspector Manu Bala and four other officers.
According to him, no prima facie case was established against the suspects after examining witness statements, suspect accounts, and other available evidence.
Pedro said there was no eyewitness testimony confirming that the officers shot the deceased, despite the incident occurring in a busy market environment. He added that available findings suggested the situation escalated after traders allegedly attacked the police team during a land dispute, with one officer reportedly injured and his service rifle taken.
The Attorney-General further noted that the only civilian initially arrested was later confirmed not to have been present at the scene.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Justice had earlier requested key forensic materials, including post-mortem and ballistic reports, but these were not submitted by the police within the required timeframe.
Pedro said the ministry eventually issued its legal advice in March 2026, concluding that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with charges of conspiracy and involuntary manslaughter.
However, he stressed that the decision is not final and can be reviewed if new evidence emerges.
“In the event that any new evidence links any suspect to the crime, the ministry will not hesitate to prosecute,” he said.
He defended the decision as a legal obligation, arguing that prosecution must be based on credible evidence and not assumptions, and emphasized that justice must serve victims, suspects, and society fairly.
The August 2025 incident in Owode Onirin, which left six traders dead, has continued to attract public attention and debate over the actions of both the police and prosecuting authorities.
Comments
This post currently has no comments.