The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has announced the expansion of its District Prosecutor Scheme to more magisterial districts across the state.
This is in a bid to curb police abuse and prevent the wrongful prosecution of civil matters as criminal cases.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ikeja, the Senior Special Adviser to the Attorney General, Mr Adebayo Haroun, revealed that the initiative, launched in April 2020, has significantly improved the state’s justice system by vetting police-prepared charges before they reach the courts.
According to Haroun, the scheme had helped reduce frivolous charges, protect citizens’ rights, and ease court congestion.
He noted that the Ogba Magistrates’ Court continued to record the highest number of criminal cases in the state, with over 1,100 cases received in the first half of 2025 alone.
Haroun, speaking during the second stakeholders’ meeting on plea bargain and district prosecutor’s scheme, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, said between January and June 2025, the Ogba district received 1,121, of which 1,049 were approved and 72 declined.
“In 2024 alone, Ogba received 2,441 cases, approving 2,383 and declining 58. Similarly, between October and December 2023, Ogba district topped the chart again, reinforcing its position as the busiest magisterial district in Lagos. Ogba consistently receives more case files than any other district. This shows the high volume of criminal justice activity in that area,” Haroun said.
The scheme deploys state counsel district prosecutors to magisterial districts to vet police-prepared charges before they are filed.
Haroun explained that the initiative was necessary because some police officers “turn civil matters into criminal cases,” leading to wrongful detentions and court congestion.
“The state does not have power over the police, so we can’t really give directives. But what can we do in the interim to make sure the police do not see us as enemies? That’s why we created the district prosecutor scheme,” Haroun said.
