The Lagos state government is serious about fighting crime and has established
the first DNA Forensic laboratory in the country. Read the press statement released today:
"In
furtherance of its commitment to the criminal justice sector reforms and
take the fight against crime to a greater level, the Lagos State
Government on Tuesday announced that it has concluded plans to establish
the first ever high-powered DNA Forensic Laboratory in Nigeria which
will take off within the next six to twelve months.
The
lab, which would be called the Lagos State DNA Forensics Centre (LSDFC), when
fully operational, would fulfill an unmet need for DNA profiling which is a
unique forensic technique that is now being used all over the world.
Addressing
journalists at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa on Tuesday, the State
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, said the establishment
of the centre was another eloquent testimony of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s
sincerity and seriousness towards fighting all forms of criminality.
Kazeem,
who addressed the media alongside senior officials of the Ministry, said Governor
Ambode had been at the vanguard of the war against domestic, sexual and violent
crimes, and that the centre was geared towards vigorous justice sector reforms.
He
recalled the ground-breaking donation of equipment worth N4.8 billion to the
Nigerian Police, the Light Up Lagos Project, and the recent solidarity visit of
the Governor to crime flash points like the Isawo area of Ikorodu where
criminals have been terrorizing innocent citizens, among others as further
proofs of the Governor’s determination to tackle crime.
Speaking
on the importance of the forensic centre, the Commissioner said the facility which
would be driven by the Ministry of Justice with active support of the Governor,
will focus on DNA analysis to support the justice sector in diverse areas such
as “collection and preserving reference and evidentiary DNA which can later be
used in identifying criminals; decoding familial relationships of individuals
which could also be a tool for the judicial system; and identifying victims and
remains after natural and manmade calamities.”
Kazeem
also explained that DNA profiling is an extraction of DNA from body fluids,
semen, nails, hair and other DNA generic sources, adding that the centre would greatly
help to controvert evidence of alibi and confirm physical presence of suspects
at the scene of a crime and the origin of DNA to such suspects.
He
said: “Even though the role of DNA in forensics, law enforcement and the
justice sector is well known globally, a high-powered DNA analysis centre is
not available in Nigeria. This means that most, if not all the DNA testing
needs are performed outside Nigeria, a situation that leads to longer
turnaround times and an overall higher cost of bringing closure to
investigation and prosecution of crimes.”
He
said when operational, the centre will serve the DNA needs of the state,
members of the public, other states and neighbouring countries, saying it would
be of international standard which all stakeholders including security agencies
would benefit from.
On
the areas of focus, Kazeem said the Centre would be deployed for criminal
investigation to identify criminals with incredible accuracy and exonerate
suspects mistakenly accused or convicted of crimes.
The
Centre, according to the Commissioner, would also aid investigation on domestic
and sexual violence cases, boost family and paternity proceedings, and help in
identifying victims of natural and manmade disasters.
The
Commissioner expressed optimism that the Centre would be a unique solution to
fighting crime in the quest of the present administration for a safer and
secured Lagos, adding, “Lagos is a unique place with a unique Governor who has
continued and will continue to provide unique solutions.”
He
further said the government was partnering with experts in the DNA field on the
project, who would build, operate and transfer to government after about two
years, a period within which the officials of the state must have been trained
on how to run the Centre.
Fielding
questions on the challenge of collecting database for the centre, Kazeem said data
collated along the line, would be stored, and that other government ministries,
departments and agencies would equally collaborate with the Ministry of Justice
to effectively deliver on the mandate of the Centre.
SIGNED
HABIB ARUNA
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
FEBRUARY 23, 2016
