The Lagos State Government has rejected claims that it is protecting suspects linked to the killing of six traders at Owode Onirin, insisting that its decision not to prosecute was based strictly on insufficient evidence.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, in a statement on Friday, described reports questioning the state’s handling of the case as inaccurate, maintaining that the materials provided by the police did not establish a case against the accused officers.
He said, “false, misleading and unsupported by facts,” while responding to a publication that suggested the government was shielding those involved in the August 27, 2025 incident.
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According to the attorney-general, the Lagos State Police Command had forwarded the case file to the ministry for legal advice after preliminary investigations, in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
However, upon review of witness accounts, suspect statements and other documents, the ministry found no direct evidence linking the arrested individuals to the deaths.
“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,” he said.
Pedro added that evidence before the ministry indicated that traders may have confronted the police team during a dispute, leading to the seizure of a service rifle, which was allegedly used by a civilian to open fire.
“The police inspector was assaulted and had to be rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital,” he stated.
He further disclosed that the only civilian initially arrested was later confirmed not to have been at the scene.
The attorney-general said the ministry did not immediately close the case but instead directed the police to carry out further investigations and submit key evidence, including post-mortem reports, ballistic analysis and examination of firearms used by the officers.
Despite waiting over 45 days and issuing reminders, he said the requested materials were not provided, even as the suspects remained in custody with their bail requests denied.
“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 advice recommended withdrawing charges of conspiracy and involuntary manslaughter due to lack of evidence.
Pedro, however, stressed that the matter remains open and could be revisited if new evidence emerges.
“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 added that some reports, including provisional post-mortem and ballistic findings, were only submitted after the legal advice had already been issued and are currently under review.
Defending the decision, the commissioner emphasised that declining prosecution in the absence of credible evidence was a legal obligation.
“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.”
Pedro also raised concerns about what he described as misleading narratives, warning that prosecutions driven by “assumptions, suspicion or emotion” could undermine the justice system.
The Owode Onirin incident, which occurred in August 2025 and left six traders dead, continues to attract public scrutiny over the conduct of both law enforcement and prosecuting authorities.
