Mr Bayo Akinlade, the Chairman of the Ikorodu Branch of the
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), on Monday frowned at the continued
prosecution of cases in the magistrate’s courts by the police.
Akinlade told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that delays in
criminal jurisprudence at the magistrates’ court were largely due
to poor prosecution by the police.
According to him, it is the duty of lawyers to prosecute cases
in the courts.
He said that the prosecution should be done by competent
lawyers.
Akinlade, the Convener of Fight Against Corruption in the
Judiciary, told NAN that many cases were being struck out by
magistrates’ courts as a result of lack of diligent
prosecution.
He urged strict adherence to the provisions of the
Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
“I am angry that Lagos State has not fully adopted the ACJA and
its provisions especially as regards prosecution of cases by police
officers.
“Section 106 of the ACJA stipulates that prosecution of all
offences in any court shall be undertaken by the Attorney-General
of the Federation (AGF) or a law officer in his ministry, a legal
practitioner authorised by the AGF or a legal practitioner
authorised to prosecute by law.
“It is rumored that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has the
second largest `law firm’ in sub-Saharan Africa with more than 500
state counsel,” he said.
The NBA chairman said that Lagos State should, therefore, be
able to spare 150 lawyers to prosecute cases in all its
magistrates’ courts.
“I will approach the attorney-general of Lagos State and ask for
a fiat to allow private practitioners, especially members of the
NBA Ikorodu branch, to prosecute cases at the magistrates’ courts
in Ikorodu.
“It is important that we start making use of good lawyers; the
incompetency of police prosecutors are responsible for congestion
in our courts and inability to prosecute the real criminals.
“It is my duty as the chairman of a branch of the NBA to protect
the integrity of the legal profession and the judiciary. I do not
shy away from putting up a good argument in favour of the
institution of justice,” he said. (NAN)
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