(Lawal Pedro. lagos state ministry)
The Lagos State Government has denied accusations that it is protecting suspects connected to the murders of six businessmen at Owode Onirin, claiming that the lack of proof was the only reason for its decision to not press charges.
A publication titled “Is Lagos State Shielding Killers?” that questioned the state’s handling of the August 27, 2025 incident involving Inspector Manu Bala and four other police officers was called “false, misleading, and unsupported by facts” by Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Lawal Pedro (SAN) in a rejoinder released on Friday.
Pedro insisted that the documents given by the Lagos State Police Command did not establish a prima facie case against the suspects.
He stated, “After conducting 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.”
He clarified that there was no clear connection between the suspects and the traders’ killings after a careful examination of witness and suspect statements as well as other documentation evidence.
Pedro said, “For example, despite the incident supposedly taking place in a busy market, there was no eyewitness account in the case file confirming that the policemen shot the deceased.”
According to the data that is now available, traders attacked the police team when they arrived at a disputed area, depriving one Inspector Jibrin of his service gun, which was allegedly used by a trader to open fire.
He stated, “The police inspector was assaulted and had to be rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital,” adding that the sole civilian suspect who had been detained had subsequently been found not to have been present.
Pedro revealed that the ministry first instructed the police to carry out additional investigations rather than delivering a “no case” advice due to the seriousness of the matter.
He said, “On October 30, 2025, the ministry requested critical evidence, such as ballistic analysis of recovered bullets, post-mortem reports, and examination reports of rifles assigned to the officers involved.”
But he pointed out that the police did not deliver the materials within 45 days, which led to a reminder on December 17, 2025, while the suspects were still detained and their bail requests were turned down.
“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 stated.
The Attorney-General clarified that due to insufficient evidence, the legal counsel suggested dropping the accusations of involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy under Sections 411 and 224 of the Lagos State Criminal Law.
But he emphasized that the choice is not final.
Pedro stated, “The ministry will not hesitate to prosecute if any new evidence emerges linking any suspect to the crime, as there is no time bar for criminal prosecution.”
He further disclosed that the police only filed preliminary ballistic and post-mortem findings after the legal counsel had been given, and that the records are presently being examined for potential future action.
Pedro emphasized that refusing to prosecute without adequate evidence is a constitutional obligation in support of the ministry’s stance.
He stated, “Deciding not to prosecute when there is insufficient evidence is an ethical and constitutional obligation to prevent wrongful prosecution, not an act of protection.”
“Justice is three-way traffic, not one-way traffic,” he continued. The victim, the suspect, and society at large must all benefit from it
Pedro also questioned what he called “police narratives to the press,” claiming that important facts had been misrepresented and suppressed, and cautioned against prosecutions motivated by “assumptions, suspicion, or emotion.”
He reiterated the state government’s dedication to upholding the law, declaring that Lagos would continue to guarantee impartial, equitable, and evidence-based prosecution.
Six traders were killed in the Owode Onirin incident in August 2025, and the public’s attention has been drawn to the responsibilities played by the police and prosecuting authorities.
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