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As controversies over paternity of children continue to dominate centre stage, the Lagos State Government has said its Forensic Centre has conducted about investigations on 437 cases involving paternity associated with child support and inheritance.
Speaking during the virtual 5th Edition of Lagos Forensic Symposium hosted by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice in collaboration with Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre and ITSI – Biosciences LLC, Johnstown, PA USA, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) ,who dislosed this also said that that the centre has also carried out studiea and experiments on 158 crime scenes investigation.
While speaking on the importance of Forensic Science, the Commissioner noted that introduction of Forensic Science to Criminal Justice Administration has enhanced police investigations, and facilitated speedy identification and conviction of perpetrators of crime and also helped in the exoneration of innocent persons.
“Lagos State Government recognizes the importance of forensic analysis, which led to the establishment of Lagos State DNA & Forensic Center (LSD&FC) to support investigations conducted by the Nigeria Police and other law enforcement agencies,” Onigbanjo noted.
He added that “the Center was commissioned in September 2017 while the Lagos State Forensic Biology/DNA unit and the DNA Database and Matching system attained ISO 17025:2017 accreditation in February 2019.”
Onigbanjo noted that the violence that erupted during the #EndSARS protest in October 2020 had a negative impact on the DNA and Forensic Centre after it was attacked and the complex extensively damaged by a Mob alongside other public and private properties in Lagos State.
He assured Lagosians that rebuilding of the Centre remains a top priority of Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu’s administration.
The Attorney-General noted that the 5th Lagos Forensic Symposium will provide up-to-date information on how forensic science is applied in criminal investigations, law enforcement, mass fatalities, sexual assault, wildlife trafficking and other related matters in Lagos State.
Onigbanjo added, “the annual Forensic Symposium is targeted at Judges, Magistrates, Lawyers, Law makers, Police Investigators, Forensic pathologist/scientists, Medical practitioners, Emergency responders, students, NGOs and Investigative Journalists.
