The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, conducted an official inspection of the newly refurbished and fully operational Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre (LSD&FC) and the J.I.C. Taylor Courthouse.
The Lagos Forensic Centre at Odunlami Street, Lagos was built in 2017 and was the first DNA forensic laboratory as part of the criminal justice sector reforms.
The lab was designed to solve crime through technology and for general DNA profiling in Lagos state. The Centre is the first standard high-powered DNA Forensic Centre in sub-Saharan Africa.
It was equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and served many stakeholders including foreign embassies, the police, judiciary, NGOs, and other civil societies, to carry out sophisticated forensic tests for medical purposes, evaluations to obtain justice in courts, and to serve other
interests.
Unfortunately, the center was destroyed during the #endsars protest in 2020.
Specialized equipment in the centre was completely vandalized and will require new efforts to replace them at an estimated cost of over $7 million. The Fund is liaising with the facility managers and the Ministry of Justice to fashion out rehabilitation and funding strategy bearing in mind the scale of customized equipment required for the Centre.
Alhaji Pedro was accompanied by a team of technical experts, including engineers and electricians. The visit aimed to assess the functionality and operational efficiency of the facilities.
He also inspected the rebuilt J.J.C. Taylor Court House, which was also destroyed during the EndSARS protests, reaffirming the State Government’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for judicial officers.
This initiative reaffirms the Lagos State Government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the administration of justice in line with global best practices, enhancing public confidence, institutional efficiency, and legal excellence.
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