Owode Onirin killings: Lagos govt rejects claim of shielding suspects
By Henry Ojelu
Lagos State Government has dismissed allegations that it is shielding suspects linked to the killing of six traders at Owode Onirin, insisting that the decision not to prosecute was based strictly on lack of evidence in the police case file.
In a detailed rejoinder issued on Friday, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, faulted a publication titled “Is Lagos State Shielding Killers?” which questioned the state’s handling of the August 27, 2025, incident involving Inspector Manu Bala and four other police officers.
Mr. Pedro described the report as “false, misleading and unsupported by facts,” maintaining that no prima facie case was established against the suspects from materials forwarded by the Lagos State Police Command.
According to him, the police had, in line with Section 74 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, transmitted the case file to the ministry for legal advice after conducting initial investigations.
However, upon review of witness statements, suspect statements and other documentary evidence, Pedro said the ministry found no direct link between the arrested suspects and the deaths of the six traders.
“For instance, there was no eyewitness account in the case file confirming that the policemen shot the deceased, despite the incident allegedly occurring in a busy market,” the rejoinder noted.
Rather, the AG said evidence before the ministry suggested that traders had attacked the police team upon arrival at a disputed land, dispossessing one Inspector Jibrin of his service rifle, which was allegedly used by a trader to open fire.
“The police inspector was assaulted and had to be rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital,” he stated, adding that the only civilian suspect arrested was confirmed by investigators not to have been at the scene.
Pedro said the ministry, given the gravity of the case, refrained from issuing an immediate legal advice of “no case to answer,” but instead directed the police to conduct further investigations.
He disclosed that on October 30, 2025, the ministry requested critical evidence, including post-mortem reports of the deceased, ballistic analysis of bullets recovered, and examination reports of rifles assigned to the officers involved.
Despite the directive, the Attorney-General said the police failed to provide the requested materials within 45 days, prompting a reminder on December 17, 2025.
The suspects, he noted, remained in custody during the period, with their bail applications rejected.
“It was only after about six months of incarceration and no response from the police that the ministry issued its legal advice on March 3, 2026, concluding that no prima facie case had been disclosed against the suspects,” he said.
The legal advice, according to him, recommended the withdrawal of case of conspiracy and involuntary manslaughter under Sections 411 and 224 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State against the suspects due to lack of evidence to sustain the charge
Pedro, however, stressed that the decision was not final, noting that the case file remains open.
“In the event that any new evidence emerges linking any suspect to the crime, the ministry will not hesitate to prosecute, as there is no time bar for criminal prosecution,” he said.
He further disclosed that the police only submitted provisional post-mortem and ballistic reports after the legal advice had been issued, adding that the documents are currently under review for possible supplementary action.
Defending the ministry’s position, Pedro said declining to prosecute in the absence of sufficient evidence was a constitutional duty, not an attempt to protect suspects.
“The decision not to prosecute where evidence is insufficient is not an act of protection—it is an ethical and constitutional obligation to prevent wrongful prosecution,” he stated.
He added, “Justice is not a one-way traffic, but three-way traffic. It must serve the victim, the suspect and society at large.”
The Attorney-General also questioned the motives behind what he described as “police narratives to the press,” alleging misrepresentation and suppression of material facts.
He warned that allowing prosecutions based on “assumptions, suspicion or emotion” would undermine the integrity of the justice system.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment, Pedro said Lagos would continue to uphold the rule of law, protect human life and ensure fair, impartial and evidence-based prosecution.
The August 2025 Owode Onirin incident, which left six traders dead, has continued to generate controversy, with public scrutiny focused on the roles of both the police and prosecuting authorities in the handling of the case.
