Attorney General of Lagos State explained
The Attorney General of Lagos State also known as Lagos State Commissioner for Justice is the head of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.[1] [2] The officer's duty is to ensure that "the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced".[3] The Attorney General carries out the responsibilities of the office through the Ministry of Justice.[4] The Attorney General is appointed to a four-years term, with a maximum of two terms, by the Governor subject to the approval of the State House of Assembly.[5] [6] The incumbent Attorney General is Lawal Pedro appointed on 13 September 2023.[7]
Statutory duties
By Section 195 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, “There shall be an Attorney-General for each State who shall be the Chief Law Officer of the State and a Commissioner for Justice of the government of that State pursuant to the above provision”.[8] Also the Attorney General shall be the Head the Ministry of Justice, charged with the responsibility to provide a legal services and support for local law enforcement in the state and acts as the chief counsel in state litigation.[9] In addition, the Attorney General Oversees law enforcement agencies.[10] [11] [12]
History
The office was established in 1968, just a year after Lagos State was founded.Since the establishment of the office, sixteen officials had served in that capacity including Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a former vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. [Web site: Meet Buhari's running mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo - Vanguard News. Vanguard News. 24 April 2015. ][13] [12] [14]
List of attorneys general
Source: Lagos State Ministry of Justice
| Chief Justice | Term |
|---|
| 1968–1973 |
| Tajudeen Bankole-Oki, SAN | 1973–1975 |
| Prof. Alfred Bandele Kasunmu, SAN | 1975–1977 |
| 1977–1979 |
| 1979 |
| 1979–1982 |
| 1982–1983 |
| 1984–1986 |
| 1986–1990 |
| 1990–1992 |
| 1992–1994 |
| 1994–1996 |
| 1996–1999 |
| Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN | 1999–2007 |
| Olasupo Shasore, SAN | 2007–2011 |
| 2011–2015 |
| 2015–2019 |
| Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN | 2019 – 2023 |
| Lawal Pedro, SAN | September 13, 2023- present | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Lagos Rejects Court Decision on Environmental Sanitation, Articles - THISDAY LIVE . thisdaylive.com . 24 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150705013555/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/lagos-rejects-court-decision-on-environmental-sanitation/204387/ . 5 July 2015 .
- Web site: Sanitation: Movement restriction still in force, says Lagos . The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper . 24 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150706022519/http://www.punchng.com/news/sanitation-movement-restriction-still-in-force-says-lagos/ . 6 July 2015 .
- Web site: Lagos Attorney General Defends Ban on Hijabs in Schools, Articles - THISDAY LIVE . thisdaylive.com . 24 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141111013730/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/lagos-attorney-general-defends-ban-on-hijabs-in-schools/192094/ . 11 November 2014 .
- Web site: Court Dismisses 'Deportation' Case against Lagos State, Articles - THISDAY LIVE . thisdaylive.com . 24 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150320033254/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/court-dismisses-deportation-case-against-lagos-state/195940/ . 20 March 2015 .
- Web site: Fashola Swears in Atilade as Lagos Chief Judge, Articles - THISDAY LIVE . thisdaylive.com . 24 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402163608/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fashola-swears-in-atilade-as-lagos-chief-judge/186904/ . 2 April 2015 .
- Web site: Sanitation movement restriction still in force –Lagos . https://archive.today/20150424155545/http://www.punchng.com/news/sanitation-movement-restriction-still-in-force-lagos/ . dead . 24 April 2015 . The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper . 24 April 2015 .
- Web site: 2022-11-18 . Mr. Lawal Pedro (S.A.N) - Lagos State Ministry of Justice . 2024-08-21 . en-US.
- Web site: Lagos State Government . 23 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150331071409/http://www.lagosstate.gov.ng/pagemenus.php?p=683&k=250 . 2015-03-31 .
- Web site: Court bars Lagos from privatising probate . The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper . 24 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150422142451/http://www.punchng.com/feature/the-law-you/court-bars-lagos-from-privatising-probate/ . 22 April 2015 .
- Web site: Judiciary Workers Suspend Strike in Lagos, Articles - THISDAY LIVE . thisdaylive.com . 24 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150629071736/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/judiciary-workers-suspend-strike-in-lagos/200740/ . 29 June 2015 .
- Web site: Review of Lagos State Criminal Law, inevitable - AG - Vanguard News. Vanguard News. 24 April 2015.
- Web site: How a Pentecostal law professor has helped reshape Nigerian politics. Washington Post. 24 April 2015.
- Web site: Finally, Buhari settles for Tinubu ally, Yemi Osinbajo, as running mate - Premium Times Nigeria. Premium Times Nigeria. 24 April 2015.
- Book: The Nigerian Legal System. 9780820471266. 24 April 2015. Mwalimu. Charles. 2005.
