The Lagos State Government has refuted claims that it is shielding suspects connected to the murders of six traders at Owode Onirin, claiming that the lack of evidence was the only reason for its decision to not press charges.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, criticized the government’s handling of the August 27, 2025 incident involving Inspector Manu Bala and four other police officers in a comprehensive response released on Friday. The publication was titled “Is Lagos State Shielding Killers?”
Pedro insisted that no prima facie case was made against the suspects based on information provided by the Lagos State Police Command, calling the report “false, misleading, and unsupported by facts.”
He clarified that following preliminary investigations, the police sent the case file to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice in accordance with Section 74 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State.
Nevertheless, the ministry discovered no direct link between the suspects and the six traders’ deaths after examining witness statements, suspect accounts, and other documentary evidence.
The rejoinder stated, “For example, despite the incident allegedly taking place in a busy market, there was no eyewitness account in the casefile confirming that the police officers shot the deceased.”
Rather, according to Pedro, the evidence that is currently available shows that traders attacked the police team at a disputed land site, depriving one Inspector Jibrin of his service rifle, which a trader allegedly used to fire shots.
He continued, “The police inspector was assaulted and had to be rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital,” adding that investigators had verified that the lone civilian suspect had not been present at the scene.
The Attorney-General stated that the ministry initially refused to give a “no case to answer” advice due to the gravity of the situation and instead instructed the police to carry out additional investigations.
He revealed that on October 30, 2025, the ministry asked for important evidence, such as post-mortem reports, ballistic analysis of recovered bullets, and examination reports of the firearms given to the participating officers.
He claims that a follow-up reminder was sent on December 17, 2025, while the suspects were still detained and their bail requests were turned down, because the police did not deliver the requested materials within 45 days.
Pedro stated, “The ministry only released its legal advice on March 3, 2026, concluding that no prima facie case had been disclosed against the suspects, after about six months of incarceration and no response from the police.”
He mentioned that the advice suggested dropping the accusations of involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy under Sections 411 and 224 of the Lagos State Criminal Law because there was insufficient evidence.
Pedro emphasized that the case is still open, saying that if new evidence comes to light, prosecution may still move forward.
“There is no time bar for criminal prosecution, so the ministry will not hesitate to prosecute if any new evidence emerges linking any suspect to the crime,” he stated.
He also disclosed that, following the issuance of the legal advice, the police submitted preliminary post-mortem and ballistic reports, which are presently being reviewed for potential future action.
Pedro defended the ministry’s stance, arguing that refusing to prosecute in the absence of adequate evidence was a constitutional obligation rather than an effort to protect suspects
He said, “It is an ethical and constitutional obligation to prevent wrongful prosecution; the decision to not prosecute when there is insufficient evidence is not an act of protection.”
Justice is a three-way process rather than a one-way one. The victim, the suspect, and society as a whole must all benefit from it, he continued.
Additionally, the Attorney-General questioned what he called deceptive narratives, cautioning that prosecutions motivated by conjecture or sentiment could jeopardize the legal system.
He reiterated the state government’s dedication to protecting lives, maintaining the rule of law, and making sure that prosecutions are solely based on fairness and the evidence.
About The Author
