Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has said the state is making strategic investments in forensic science and digital security to bridge the evidence gap that continues to hamper the prosecution of criminal cases in Nigeria.
He made the remarks yesterday while declaring open the 2026 Global Forensics Summit organised by the International Academy of Forensics in collaboration with The Guardian Newspaper, Nigeria.
The governor was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Aderinsola Olanrewaju.
He noted that thousands of criminal cases across Nigeria fail to reach successful conclusions, not because of the absence of suspects or witnesses, but because investigators often lack credible and scientifically verifiable evidence that can withstand judicial scrutiny.
According to Governor Sanwo-Olu, the disconnect between investigations and successful prosecution remains one of the greatest challenges confronting Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
“The gap between what investigators uncover and what prosecutors can prove is the forensic gap. Closing that gap is precisely why this summit matters,” he said.
He explained that Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial hub with over 22 million residents, faces increasingly sophisticated crimes, including cybercrime, digital fraud, financial manipulation, identity theft and organised criminal activities.
The governor said the state’s response has been deliberate investment in modern forensic and justice infrastructure.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted that Lagos established West Africa’s first DNA and Forensic Centre in 2017, describing it as an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited crime laboratory under the Ministry of Justice that has supported investigations involving homicide, sexual offences and human remains identification.
He reiterated that the second phase of the project, covering toxicology and forensic chemistry, is currently underway and will significantly expand the laboratory’s investigative capabilities.
He also highlighted key reforms introduced under the Lagos State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, including virtual court proceedings through audio and video confethe rencing, establishment of the Lagos Criminal Information System, and Prohibition of media parade of suspects.
According to him, the reforms align Lagos’ justice system with global best practices while protecting the dignity and rights of accused persons.
Sanwo-Olu further revealed that Lagos became the first sub-national government in Nigeria to establish a fully operational Cybersecurity Operations Centre for real-time monitoring and response to cyber threats.
Sanwo-Olu stressed that modern forensic investigations can no longer focus only on physical crime scenes.
“The crime scene of the 21st century is often a server, a mobile device or a financial transaction rather than a physical location,” the governor stated.
Speaking on the summit’s theme, “Forensic Investigation and Criminal Intelligence: Strengthening the Administration of Justice in the Age of Technological Advancement,” the governor said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital forensics and cyber intelligence have become indispensable in modern criminal investigations.
He charged investigators, forensic scientists, lawyers, academics and policymakers to uphold the highest standards in evidence collection, preservation and analysis, warning that compromised forensic processes weaken public confidence in the justice system.
He commended the International Academy of Forensics for promoting professional standards, capacity building and collaboration across Nigeria’s justice and security sectors.
The governor reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to working with professional bodies and security agencies to build a justice system where scientific evidence drives fair and effective prosecution.
Welcoming guests earlier, Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Forensics and Emeritus Professor at the University of Lagos, Professor Dele Olowokudejo, described the summit as a strategic platform bringing together leading experts in forensic science, criminal intelligence, law, security, academia and public administration.
Prof. Olowokudejo said participants were united by a common objective of strengthening justice systems through innovation, collaboration and knowledge sharing.
He lamented that rapid technological advancement has fundamentally changed the nature of criminal activities, with cybercrime, financial fraud, digital deception, identity theft and transnational organised crime becoming increasingly sophisticated.
However, he noted that technological innovations such as artificial intelligence, biometric identification, cyber intelligence, digital forensics and data analytics also provide powerful tools for combating crime and improving justice delivery.
He urged participants to leverage the summit to exchange ideas, establish strategic partnerships and develop practical solutions capable of improving criminal investigations and public confidence in justice institutions.
He also applauded the International Academy of Forensics, The Guardian Newspaper Nigeria, institutional partners and sponsors for supporting professional development and justice sector reforms.
Delivering the keynote address titled “The Administration of Justice in Nation-Building,” the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, represented by Justice Oluwatoyin Atinuke Ipaye, described justice as the bedrock of sustainable national development.
The Chief Judge said no nation can achieve lasting peace, economic prosperity or democratic stability without a justice system that enjoys public confidence.
According to the CJ, the administration of justice extends beyond the courts to include law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions, legal practitioners and every institution responsible for maintaining law and order.
Justice Alogba identified six major ways through which the justice system contributes to nation-building, including upholding the rule of law, protecting fundamental rights, promoting peace and social stability, combating crime and corruption, encouraging investment, and strengthening democratic institutions
The Chief judge bserved that technology has significantly transformed criminal activities, making conventional investigative methods insufficient.
The CJ stressed that criminal investigations must increasingly become science-driven through forensic evidence, cyber intelligence and data analytics.
Despite ongoing reforms, Alogba acknowledged persistent challenges confronting Nigeria’s justice system, including delays in court proceedings, inadequate funding, corruption and limited public awareness of legal rights.
He called for stronger collaboration among judges, lawyers, investigators, policymakers and forensic experts to ensure justice remains accessible, impartial, efficient and transparent.
The CJ concluded that justice remains the foundation upon which strong institutions, public confidence, democratic governance and sustainable national development are built.
In a lead paper titled ‘Dissecting the Interaction between Forensic Investigation and Administration of Justice’, delivered by a legal scholar, Retired Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, (Prof.) stressed the critical role of Nigeria’s legal framework in ensuring that forensic investigations support the effective administration of justice while safeguarding citizens’ constitutional rights.
The retired jurist explained that forensic investigation in Nigeria is anchored on the Constitution, the Evidence Act, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, the Police Act, and the Cybercrime Act.
According to Justice Omolaye-Ajileye, these laws provide the legal foundation for gathering, preserving and presenting forensic evidence in criminal and civil proceedings.
He noted that Chapter IV of the Constitution guarantees fundamental human rights that investigators must respect throughout the investigative process.
The retired jurist explained that evidence obtained in violation of constitutional provisions risks being rejected by the courts.
The scholar highlighted Section 35 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to personal liberty by protecting suspects from arbitrary detention and prescribing timelines for arraignment before a court.
He also cited Section 36, which guarantees the right to a fair hearing, stressing that investigative methods must not undermine a suspect’s constitutional rights.
He further made reference to constitutional protections for privacy, noting that searches of digital devices, interception of communications and other forensic procedures must be conducted lawfully and in accordance with constitutional safeguards.
The retired judge observed that before the enactment of the Evidence Act 2011, Nigerian courts operated under the outdated Evidence Act of 1945, which did not recognise electronic or digital evidence.
According to him, this created significant legal uncertainty and divided the judiciary into two opposing schools of thought.
According to Justice Omolaye-Ajileye, conservative judges rejected electronic evidence because it lacked statutory recognition, while progressive judges adopted a broader interpretation that allowed such evidence to prevent justice from being defeated by technicalities.
The jurist said the enactment of the Evidence Act 2011 resolved the uncertainty through Section 84, which expressly provides for the admissibility of electronically generated evidence.
He explained that for electronic evidence to be admissible, it must satisfy statutory conditions, including proof that the computer was regularly used in the ordinary course of business, received information consistently, operated properly, and accurately reproduced the stored information.
He added that Section 84(4) also requires a Certificate of Compliance signed by a responsible official to authenticate the electronic evidence before it can be admitted in court.
Justice Omolaye-Ajileye also highlighted the ACJA and equivalent state laws as important reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
He explained that under the ACJA, confessional statements are expected to be video-recorded or obtained in the presence of a legal practitioner or another person chosen by the suspect.
According to him, the provision was introduced to ensure that confessions are voluntary and to minimise allegations of torture or coercion.
He, however, noted that challenges still exist, particularly regarding psychological pressure that may be exerted on suspects before video recording begins.
Additionally, Justice Omolaye-Ajileye said the Police Act 2020 modernised policing in Nigeria by placing greater emphasis on forensic investigation and specialised training.
He noted that many police commands now operate forensic units dedicated to investigating homicide, cybercrime and other complex offences using scientific methods.
The retired judge said the Cybercrime Act provides the legal basis for preventing, investigating and prosecuting cyber-related offences, including identity theft, electronic fraud and cyberbullying.
He explained that the law also authorises lawful interception of communications and strengthens the use of digital forensic techniques during criminal investigations.
Justice Omolaye-Ajileye identified several categories of forensic evidence commonly relied upon in criminal investigations.
These include physical evidence such as weapons, clothing, fibres, footwear impressions and documents; biological evidence including DNA, blood, saliva and semen; fingerprints used for human identification; and medical or autopsy evidence to determine the cause, manner and time of death.
He also highlighted the importance of ballistics and toxicology in analysing firearms, ammunition, drugs, poisons and alcohol.
What is more, he emphasised the growing relevance of digital forensics and forensic accounting in investigating cybercrime, corporate fraud and electronic financial transactions.
According to him, as financial crimes increasingly migrate to digital platforms, forensic accounting has become indispensable in tracing illicit financial flows and dismantling sophisticated criminal networks.
