Ayodele Olalere
The Lagos State Government said it has received handled 4,641 adult domestic violence cases and 2,976 children cases, with 118 rape cases and rescued 64 people in the last one year.
This was revealed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro SAN, who spoke at a Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the first year of the Second Term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in office held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja on Wednesday.
He said the cases were handled by the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).
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He added that the state obtained over 50 judgements in courts, 36 restraining orders, handled 652 social welfare cases, concluded mediation in 107 cases and reached over 800,000 people in the community through advocacy and sensitisation.
It also secured over 320 judgements in favour of the government in various courts across the state and also approved 100 plea bargains in the last one year.
Lawal further disclosed that Office of the Public Defender, OPD secured 230 judgements in favour of the state, while the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP, obtained 40 judgements, and the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) secured over 50 judgements.
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The Attorney-General also revealed that the OPD handled 1,812 child-related cases, 316 domestic violence-related cases, and 29 rescue missions, adding that the agency further received a total of 1,988 cases via court and correctional centres (Criminal, Industrial, Civil, and Family related cases), out of which 448 had been successfully concluded, with the Office receiving the total sum of ₦59,326,549 on behalf of its clients and beneficiaries.
Pedro disclosed that the DPP obtained 40 judgements in courts and 11 plea bargains, with seven cases struck out and four others discharged in the last one year, adding that the Directorate received 377 files for legal advice, out of which it issued 229 advice, with 148 files pending.
The commissioner also said that 158 plea bargain applications were received by the Directorate, out of which 100 were approved, two declined and 56 pending.
More so, Pedro said the Directorate for Citizens’ Rights in the period under review received 755 petitions on family matters, 131 petitions on employee and employer matters and 744 tenancy matters, out of which 539 were family matters), 80 were employee/employer issue and 577 tenancy matters were resolved, respectively.
He said the Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC) in the period under review received a total number of 35,655 matters for mediation, out of which 20,691 were treated and resolved, adding that 14,964 matters were undecided as a result of non-attendance of concerned parties at mediation sessions.
“Based on the agency’s guiding principles and core values that justice is delivered irrespective of status or socio-economic background, the agency received the sum of N183,721,134 on behalf of parties being the settlement of debt related matters,” he noted.
Pedro also disclosed that a total number of 10,266 offenders were arrested, arraigned and convicted for various minor offences by the Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court, saying that the actions of the court had been able to reduce criminal activities of miscreant by charging them to court and ensuring custodial sentencing.
The Attorney-General added that the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers in the period under review received 582 petitions out of which 120 were concluded, saying that other notable achievements included 71 enforcement approvals and 33 inscription approvals.
