Ignorance, not absence of institutions, fuelling injustice — Lagos AG

By Henry Ojelu

LAGOS — THE Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN, has declared that most cases of injustice, exploitation and abuse suffered by residents of Lagos are not due to the absence of legal institutions, but widespread ignorance of existing justice mechanisms and failure to utilise them.
Pedro made the assertion at a media parley with judiciary editors and correspondents, where he defended government policies on enforcement, demolitions, criminal justice administration and judicial delays, while placing significant responsibility on public awareness and media engagement.
According to him, Lagos has one of the most elaborate justice-support infrastructures in the country, but citizens continue to suffer because they do not know where to seek help or how to trigger government intervention.
“The structures are already there. The challenge is that people do not know where to go,” Pedro said.
He explained that the Lagos State government deliberately established institutions such as the Office of the Public Defender, OPD, Administrator-General and Public Trustee, Public Advice Centre, and Citizens’ Rights Directorate to protect indigent and vulnerable residents from injustice.
He stressed that the OPD is not limited to criminal defence but also handles civil claims, mediation, estate disputes and, in appropriate cases, prosecution on behalf of citizens who cannot afford private lawyers.
“These offices exist to ensure that no one is denied justice because of poverty,” he said.
In a direct challenge to the media, the Attorney-General urged journalists to go beyond reporting human-interest outrage and instead educate the public on practical pathways to justice.
“When injustice happens, the media should ask: where should the poor go? Who should they report to? That information must be part of the story,” he said.
Addressing complaints about weak enforcement of laws, Pedro said: “If nobody complains, the issue is not brought to our attention and we cannot act.”
He assured that once complaints are lodged, the Ministry of Justice issues directives and compels relevant agencies to act.
On the politically sensitive issue of demolitions, Pedro insisted that Lagos does not demolish properties arbitrarily, arguing that public safety and compliance with planning laws remain paramount.
“There is a law that says before you erect a structure, you must obtain approval. When buildings are erected on waterways or in unsafe locations, they pose risks to lives,” he said.

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