#EndSARS: Lagos Govt. Releases 253 from Custody

#EndSARS: Lagos Govt. Releases 253 from Custody

The state’s Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) has advised Lagos courts to immediately free 253 persons arrested by the police in connection to the #EndSARS protest.

In a statement disclosed by the Director of Public Affairs in the Ministry of Justice, Kayode Oyekanmi, Onigbanjo said the state’s Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) had reviewed the temporary charges filed against the suspects by the police and found no prima facie evidence that they committed any crime.

The Attorney-General also stated that the police forwarded 40 case files on 361 persons arrested in connection with the #EndSARS protests to the DPP for Legal Advice between November 4 and 5, 2020.

It was also learnt that the Director of Public Prosecutions shall be prosecuting 92 persons for different offences ranging from arson, stealing, breaking into buildings, armed robbery and murder

Onigbanjo said;

“Legal advice has been issued in respect of all the 40 case files received, and as at November 6, 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, November 9, 2020.

“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.”