APPOINTS FOLA ARTHUR-WORREY AS CHAIRMAN
Admin l Wednesday, January 08, 2019
LAGOS, Nigeria – Lagos State Government today inaugurated an advisory committee on Police Prosecutions in Magistrate Courts to review laws enabling police to prosecute cases in the affected courts.
The committee’s inauguration was in response to the clamour by Non-Governmental Organizations and Stakeholders to Bar Police Prosecutions of Criminal matters at the state Magistrate in accordance to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Acts (ACJA).
While inaugurating the 7-member advisory committee on powers of police to prosecute cases, Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, said government will announce its position on the matter after the recommendation of the committee, which will be made known to the general public.
Part of the committee’s terms of reference include to look into state of Law in terms of Police Prosecutorial powers; challenges of oversight functions of the AG; distinctions in the type of offences police can prosecute; magistrate Court Jurisdiction on criminal matters and it’s powers to review charges; track the number of criminal cases filed at the Magistrate courts in Lagos State within a given period and how many cases where successfully prosecuted; examine whether the Office of the DPP can take over prosecution in over 150 magistrate courts in Lagos and look at types and categories of cases Police prosecutors handle in the Magistrate courts.
He added that the members were carefully selected based on their wealth of experience in State Criminal Justice practice. Onigbanjo assured NGOs and residents in the state that government’s final decisions will be based on fairness, devoid of sentiments and bias.
The Attorney-General urged the advisory committee to look beyond Lagos State in their deliberations and likewise consider the Laws of the Country inorder to give a balanced advise.
“I hereby urge you to look beyond Lagos State being a pace setter to others in your deliberation to make informed decisions in your advise.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Fola Arthur-Worrey, commended the Attorney-General for the choice of committee members selected. Arthur- Worrey promised that the committee will put in their best to make sure they present to the government, a rational recommendation within a month.
The Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary Titilayo Shitta-Bey, in her address noted that the recommendations of the advisory committee would enhance the effective Administration of Justice in the State.
The Seven member advisory committee include Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey – Chairman and Mrs. Arinola Momoh-Ayokanmbi as Secretary.
Other members are Mr. Norrison Quakers, SAN, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey (Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice), Mr. Yhaqub Oshoala (Director, Public Prosecutions) , DSP- Yetunde Cardoso, O/C Legal Dept, Criminal Investigation, Yaba, Lagos, Mr. Bayo Akinlade, NBA Ikorodu Chairman and Mrs. Rukayat Owolabi.
