The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), has rejected claims that the state government is shielding suspects linked to the murder of six traders at Owode Onirin.
Responding to an article by columnist Olusegun Adeniyi titled: “Is Lagos State Shielding Killers?” Pedro stressed that prosecutorial actions should be based solely on the evidence available.
The Attorney-General described the claims as false, misleading, and unsupported by the facts in the police case file submitted to the Ministry of Justice.
He stated that the ministry reviewed the case file forwarded by the Lagos State Police Command following the incident on 27 August 2025 involving Inspector Manu Bala and four others, but found no evidence directly linking the arrested suspects to the deaths.
Pedro also explained that the case file lacked eyewitness statements identifying the police officers as those who shot the victims, despite the incident taking place in a market environment.
He further noted that materials provided by investigators indicated that traders had allegedly attacked the officers, dispossessed one of them of his service rifle, and used it to open fire.
Pedro also mentioned that one civilian suspect arrested in connection with the case was reportedly not at the scene, and that investigators allegedly confirmed his alibi.
The Lagos AG further insisted that, rather than immediately issuing legal advice clearing the suspects, the ministry requested further investigation from the police on 30 October 2025.
He stated that the additional evidence sought included post-mortem reports of the deceased, ballistic analysis of bullets recovered from their bodies, and examination reports on rifles belonging to the officers involved.
Pedro stated that the suspects remained in custody during this period, with their bail applications rejected.
However, he noted that after six months without receiving the requested additional evidence from the police, the ministry provided legal advice on March 3, 2026, stating that there was no prima facie case for conspiracy or involuntary manslaughter charges.
Pedro claimed that the advice indicated suspects can still face prosecution if new evidence arises later, as criminal offences have no time limit.
He disclosed that the provisional post-mortem and ballistic reports were submitted by the police only after legal advice had been issued, and are now under review for possible supplementary legal advice.
“The decision not to prosecute where evidence is insufficient is not an act of protection, but a constitutional and ethical obligation,” he said.
The Attorney-General also criticised what he described as attempts to distort the ministry’s role, questioning the motives behind police narratives to the media on the matter.
Pedro reaffirmed the Lagos State Ministry of Justice’s commitment to the rule of law, the sanctity of human life, and fair, impartial, evidence-based prosecution.
He maintained that justice must serve victims, suspects, and the wider public alike, warning against prosecutions driven by emotion, suspicion, or bias rather than credible evidence.
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