The Lagos State Government has finally heed the call to order a coroner inquest into the alleged killing of a 14 year old teenager at the mega rally organised by the Oodu Republic Agitators in Ojota, Lagos last Saturday.
The decision of the state government was contained through a press statement, signed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the State, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) and made available to newsmen in Lagos.
The statement is reproduced below;
PRESS RELEASE FROM LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
Our attention has been drawn to the death of a 14-year-old girl in Ojota during the Oodua Republic Mega Rally on Saturday, 3rd of July, 2021.
We commiserate with the family of the deceased. The Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered a thorough investigation of the death. A Coroner’s Inquest has immediately been requested in line with section 14 and 15 of the Coroners’ Systems Law, Laws of Lagos State 2015, to determine the cause and circumstances of death.
By Section 14(1) (d) of the Coroners’ System Law of the State: “A report of death shall be made to any of the agencies for the report of death or the office of the Coroner and be subject to post-mortem examination where there is reasonable cause to believe that the cause of death was: violent, unnatural or suspicious.”
Section 15(1) and (9) further enjoins the Coroner to hold an inquest whenever he or she is informed that the death of the deceased person was in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation or believes an inquest is desirable following the report of a reportable death.
As a government, the security and wellbeing of citizens are of utmost importance to us. The State assures the public that everything will be done to ensure that the cause of death is known. The findings of this investigation will be made public in due course and appropriate sanctions meted out to anyone found culpable.
Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Lagos State,
