Lagos tackles crime with forensic DNA analysis

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The Lagos State government has said it is working on equipping its forensic centre with Chemistry and Toxicology units to strengthen criminal investigations in the state.The State Solicitor General/Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Funlola Odunlami made the disclosure at the 4th Lagos Forensic Symposium at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Odunlami stated that the unit, which would be operational by 2020 will help the government to uncover the illegal use of controlled substances and drugs in the state.

“The inclusion of the forensic chemistry and toxicology checks will enhance criminal investigations in the state and also speed up the identification and conviction of perpetrators of cases related to intake of poisonous and harmful substances in the body,”Odulami was quoted as saying in a statement signed by Mr. Kayode Oyekanmi, Director of Public Affairs, Lagos Ministry of Justice.

Odunlami explained that the Lagos State DNA and forensic centre located at Odunlami area of Lagos Island has played significant role in investigating over 100 cases of deaths, identification of exhumed human remains, rape and burglary since commencement of operations in 2017.

The Lagos State Solicitor General further noted that the forensic centre has also investigated about 300 cases of paternity and other heredity related issues.

According to her, Nigeria has finally joined the international community’s efforts in applying scientific methods to prosecution, defence, law enforcement, criminal investigations, national security and disaster management.She said the symposium was aimed at providing the public with information on the role of forensic science in criminal investigation and its importance to law enforcement agencies and the judiciary on mass fatalities, sexual assault and other issues.

Lagos State commissioner of police, Zubairu Muazu said the introduction of forensic science has helped in utilising Criminal Speciality Law in investigating criminal identities and exonerate the innocent persons.Muazu, represented by the deputy commissioner of Police CIID, Mrs. Yetunde Alonge, said investment in forensic investigation shows the visionary leadership of the Lagos State Government. He urged the participants to tap into the wealth of knowledge of the professionals that spoke at the symposium.

Also, the Centre Director of Lagos State DNA & Forensic Centre, Dr. Richard Somiari, stated that Lagos State DNA and Forensic is the only laboratory accredited for Forensic DNA analysis in Nigeria. He added that the database accelerates the process of identifying victims of crimes, linking crimes to one another and also identifying serial offenders. While commending the Police’ collaboration effort with the Lagos State Forensic Centre, the Director said forensic services are also available to NGOs, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors and other members of the public.

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IBA president Neto urges Nigerian lawyers to promote rule of law

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President of the International Bar Association (IBA), Horacio Bernardes Neto, has urged the Nigerian Bar Association to protect and promote the rule of law, stressing that it should not be traded for anything.

He stated this yesterday at the 59th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos while speaking during plenary of Rule of Law Symposium’ which was chaired by former President of NBA, Olisa Agbakoba.

Neto disclosed that he has been a greater threat to rule of law globally, saying that citizens and lawyers do not fully understand what rule and law meant, hence the need for it to be taken more seriously.

“Rule of law should not be taken for granted, it should not be traded for anything, it has to be pure because anything short of that is not it. Rule of law entails freedom of speech, free press, liberty of speech, independence of the judiciary and legal secrecy, among others,” he said.

Explaining the future of legal services, he said there was the need for lawyers to live in accordance with the dictates of the rule of law, as a commitment to promoting and safeguarding it.

He added that in terms of generational distribution, a number of authors pinpoint the incorporation of the millennial generation to the legal market, as having a significant impact, not only in the demographic mix but also in the emergence of new values in the legal profession.

He identified the emergence of new forms of value creation, technological developments and innovation, regulatory innovations with a global impact and regulatory gaps, globalisation and shift of economic power to emerging markets, as some of the factors driving change in legal services.

Other factors, he said are new skills demand and growing misalignment between legal education and practice, as well as changing demographics and values in the legal services market.

Speaking, Stephen Cragg (QC), who dwelled on abuse of prosecutorial powers, said prosecutors play a crucial role in the administration of justice, adding that rules of performance and their important responsibilities should promote respect for and compliance with the right to a fair trial.

“States shall ensure that prosecutors perform their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment, improper interference or unjustified exposure to civil, penal or other liabilities.

“The office of prosecutors shall contribute to fair and equitable criminal justice and the effective protection of citizens against crime. Prosecutors are to be strictly separated from judicial functions, perform their duties fairly, consistently and expeditiously,” he stated.

Also speaking, Manager, Gender and Social Inclusion, British Council, Mrs. Priscilla Ankut, said Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme has been promoting access to justice for people with disabilities.

She noted that they are working on transcribing relevant laws into disability associable versions- audio and braille to enable greater access by those whom the laws are intended to benefit.

“RoLAC will develop guidelines and training on the use of guidelines for handling people with disabilities in the justice sector and work with physically challenged persons’ community to develop disability employment policy for the justice sector,” she stated.

She, therefore, recommended that there was the need for NBA to show a good example in states and national secretariat buildings to factor in their members with physical challenges, programmes and policies on (person with disabilities (PWDs) issues.

“NBA should encourage judicial activism, engage in strategic impact litigation and class action on behalf of PWDs. NBA should work with other CSOs to continue to advocate with policymakers on disability rights issues.”

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‘ECOWAS court of justice, sustainable platform for human rights’

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A former Judge of the Community Court of Justice, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Prof. Friday Chijioke Nwoke has stated that the institution’s court of justice remains a viable alternative platform for the judicial protection of human rights.

Prof. Nwoke who was the guest speaker at the 17th Justice Idigbe memorial lecture recently spoke on the title: “Alternative Platform for the Protection of Human Rights in the West African Sub-Region: ECOWAS Court in Perspective.”

He stressed that the ECOWAS Community Court has a wider range of powers and is not hindered by the issue of non-domestication, which affects the legal system of many Member State in their dispensation of justice.

According to him, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice since creation of its human rights mandate had been an alternative platform for the protection of human rights in the West African Sub-Region.

Prof. Nwoke added that unlike the National Courts of many Member States of the Community who cannot entertain socio-economic rights contained in international instruments on account of non-domestication, the Court deals with the enforcement of political, social-economic and cultural rights, provided that a Member State is party to such international Human Rights Instrument.

He noted that the Court has continued to recognize the individual as an independent subject of international human rights law despite several objections by Member States, adding that in the region, each state has distinct laws, which are enforceable within each State. This diversity poses challenges when issues arise between members from different States.

As regards the quest for regional integration, Prof. Nwoke claimed that the Court has an important role to play in harmonizing human rights jurisprudence throughout the region, noting that in future an appellate division of the Court would be created to consolidate the gains so far made by the Court in the protection of the rights of the citizens of the Community to further strengthen the confidence of parties in the capacity of the Court to do substantial justice to the individual members, states and the community as a whole.

He said: “As a result of poor human rights record as well as lack of judicial independence in some Member States of the Community, many victims of human rights violation have turned to the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice for solace.

“The jurisprudence of the Court has shown that it has broken down the traditional human rights limitations contained in the constitutional law of Member States. The absence of the requirement of the exhaustion of the local remedies has enabled it to determine human rights cases brought before it expeditiously.”

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