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Attorney General of Lagos State

Attorney General of Lagos State
Incumbent
Lawal Pedro
since 13 September 2023
StyleMr. Commissioner
(Informal)
The Honorable
(Formal)
AppointerLagos State Governor nomination with House of Assembly confirmation
Term length4 years
Formation1968; 57 years ago (1968)

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

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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

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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. [13][14][12][15]

List of attorneys general

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Source: Lagos State Ministry of Justice

Chief Justice Term
Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya 1968–1973
Tajudeen Bankole-Oki, SAN 1973–1975
Prof. Alfred Bandele Kasunmu, SAN 1975–1977
Chief Femi Alokolaro 1977–1979
Jide Oki 1979
Sanu Sobowale 1979–1982
Chief Femi Alokolaro 1982–1983
Airat Balogun 1984–1986
Eniola Fadayomi 1986–1990
Shafiu Alade Bashua 1990–1992
Yomi Oshikoya 1992–1994
Toyin Akerele Ayeni 1994–1996
Muyibat Wonuola Folami 1996–1999
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN 1999–2007
Olasupo Shasore, SAN 2007–2011
Adeola Rahman Ipaye 2011–2015
Mosediq Adeniji Kazeem 2015–2019
Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN 2019 – 2023
Lawal Pedro, SAN September 13, 2023- present

References

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  1. ^ "Lagos Rejects Court Decision on Environmental Sanitation, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Sanitation: Movement restriction still in force, says Lagos". The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Lagos Attorney General Defends Ban on Hijabs in Schools, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Court Dismisses 'Deportation' Case against Lagos State, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Fashola Swears in Atilade as Lagos Chief Judge, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Sanitation movement restriction still in force –Lagos". The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Mr. Lawal Pedro (S.A.N) - Lagos State Ministry of Justice". 18 November 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Lagos State Government". 23 April 2015. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Court bars Lagos from privatising probate". The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Judiciary Workers Suspend Strike in Lagos, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  11. ^ "Review of Lagos State Criminal Law, inevitable - AG - Vanguard News". Vanguard News. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  12. ^ a b "How a Pentecostal law professor has helped reshape Nigerian politics". Washington Post. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Meet Buhari's running mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo - Vanguard News". Vanguard News. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Finally, Buhari settles for Tinubu ally, Yemi Osinbajo, as running mate - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  15. ^ Mwalimu, Charles (2005). The Nigerian Legal System. ISBN 9780820471266. Retrieved 24 April 2015.