Femi Ashekun/
The Lagos State Government has defended its decision to discontinue the prosecution of police officers linked to the killing of six traders at Owode Onirin.
It insisted that the decision was based on insufficient evidence and remains open to review, even as fresh scrutiny intensifies over the handling of the case and allegations of institutional protection.
The clarification from the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), comes in response to a detailed intervention by THISDAY columnist, Olusegun Adeniyi, which raised probing questions about the conduct of both prosecuting authorities and investigative agencies in the aftermath of the August 27, 2025 incident.
Adeniyi’s intervention, which has further deepened public interest in the case, framed the Owode Onirin killings as a potential test of institutional accountability, pointing to contradictions between the police investigation and the subsequent legal advice issued by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions that led to the withdrawal of charges against the officers involved.
The columnist also highlighted concerns emerging from within the system itself, including claims that investigative findings had initially linked the suspects to the fatal shootings, raising questions about how and why prosecutorial conclusions later shifted away from trial.
Those concerns have been amplified by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), who has consistently kept pressure on the authorities over the case, insisting that the killings of the six traders, Bamidele Dare Mufutau, Adebayo Adewale Mathew, Adeoye Taiye, Abraham Idowu Temilola, Akinboye Oluwaseyi Olamilekan, and Akeem Aderemi Adeoye, must not be allowed to fade into administrative closure.
Falana has publicly indicated that his legal team is prepared to pursue further evidence and civil action, reinforcing demands for transparency, accountability, and possible compensation for the victims’ families.
Falana’s stance has helped sustain public attention on the matter beyond the initial police investigation.
At the centre of the controversy is the legal advice issued on March 3, 2026 by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, which concluded that there was no prima facie case against the officers, a position that led to the withdrawal of charges of conspiracy and involuntary manslaughter.
However, Adeniyi’s account questioned the evidential basis of that conclusion, noting that earlier police investigations reportedly included autopsy and ballistic findings that had pointed in a different direction, raising broader concerns about institutional consistency in the handling of sensitive cases involving alleged police violence.
In its response, the Lagos State Government maintained that the decision not to proceed with prosecution was purely evidential, not political.
It noted that the Ministry of Justice could not sustain charges in the absence of sufficient forensic and testimonial proof directly linking the officers to the killings.
Attorney General, Lawal Pedro (SAN), explained that the prosecution service had, in fact, initially declined to issue a final no case advice and instead requested additional forensic materials, including post mortem reports and ballistic analysis, before reaching its conclusion.
He added that despite repeated requests, key investigative documents were not submitted within the stipulated time frame, delaying the prosecutorial assessment and contributing to the eventual legal advice to discontinue the case.
Pedro, however, stressed that the matter has not been permanently closed, stating that the case remains under review following the eventual submission of provisional forensic reports by the police after the legal advice had been issued.
He said the government remains committed to ensuring that if credible and admissible evidence emerges, appropriate legal action will be taken without hesitation.
The Owode Onirin killings, which occurred during a disputed land enforcement operation, have continued to generate debate over the role of police in land ownership conflicts and the prosecutorial discretion in Lagos State.
With renewed public attention driven by Adeniyi’s intervention and sustained advocacy from Falana, the case has evolved beyond a criminal investigation into a broader test of institutional transparency and public confidence in the justice system.
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