Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), has directed courts to immediately release 253 persons arrested by the Police in connection with #EndSARS protest in the state.
It would be recalled that MDB reported that Commissioner for Police in Lagos state, Hakeem Odumosu paraded 520 suspects arrested in connection to series of arson, vandalism, burgling of private and public properties during the unrest that followed #EndSARS protest in the state.
Odumosu had said 16 police stations were burnt and 13 vandalised by hoodlums, adding that ten persons were killed and 38 officers sustained injuries.
Read Also: Lagos Police Command Parades 520 Suspects For Vandalism, Looting, Others
In latest development, Onigbanjo has now said the state’s Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) assessed the temporary charges filed against the suspects by the police and found no prima facie evidence (compelling evidence) that they committed any crime, TheNation reports.
In a statement by the Director, Public Affairs in the Ministry of Justice, Kayode Oyekanmi, the Attorney-General explained Police forwarded 40 case files in respect of 361 persons arrested in connection with the #EndSARS protests to the DPP for Legal Advice, between November 4 and 5, 2020.
Onigbanjo expressed;
Legal advice has been issued in respect of all the 40 case files received, and as at 6th November 2020, the Directorate has been able to despatch Legal Advice in respect of 81 persons that are being charged to the various courts, while others will be despatched to court on Monday, 9th November 2020.
Out of the 361 persons, the Director of Public Prosecutions shall be prosecuting 92 persons for different offences ranging from arson, stealing, breaking into buildings, armed robbery and murder, while the office has advised that 253 persons be released forthwith for non-disclosure of a prima facie case.
In the meantime, two case files in respect of 16 persons have been advised for further investigation by the Police.
The Attorney General assured the public that;
The Office of the Attorney General, Lagos State will ensure that those arrested by the police are treated in accordance with due process of law, while it remains committed to maintaining the rule of law and ensuring peace and order in the State.
