Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu has raised concerns over the growing number of criminal cases that fail in Nigerian courts because of weak and insufficient evidence, warning that the situation is affecting the country’s justice system and the fight against modern crime.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Global Forensics Summit in Lagos, the governor said many prosecutions collapse, not because suspects or witnesses are unavailable, but because investigators are unable to present evidence strong enough to stand up in court.
Represented by the pioneer Permanent Secretary of the Citizens Mediation Bureau, Mrs Aderinsola Olanrewaju, Sanwo Olu described the challenge as a major forensic gap and stressed the need for wider adoption of forensic science and criminal intelligence in criminal investigations.
According to him, thousands of criminal cases are stalled every year because prosecutors often lack credible scientific evidence that can withstand judicial scrutiny.
He noted that bridging the gap between investigations and successful prosecution is essential to strengthening the administration of justice in Nigeria, adding that this is one of the key reasons the summit remains important.
The governor also pointed out that Lagos, with a population of more than 22 million people, continues to face increasingly sophisticated crimes such as cybercrime, digital fraud, identity theft and financial manipulation. He said these emerging threats make investment in forensic technology more important than ever.
Sanwo Olu recalled that Lagos established West Africa’s first DNA and Forensic Centre in 2017, describing the facility as a landmark achievement that introduced scientific methods into criminal investigations across the state.
He commended the International Academy of Forensics for creating a platform that brings together experts and stakeholders within the justice sector, while assuring forensic professionals, security agencies and relevant institutions of the state government’s continued support.
The four day summit, organised by the International Academy of Forensics in collaboration with Zoyols Blog, is themed, “Forensic Investigation and Criminal Intelligence: Strengthening the Administration of Justice in the Age of Technological Advancement.”
In his welcome address, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Professor Dele Olowokudejo, said advances in technology have transformed both criminal activities and crime fighting, making digital forensics, artificial intelligence, cyber intelligence and data analytics indispensable tools in modern justice administration.
Also speaking, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, who was represented by Justice Olutoyin Ipaye, stressed the need for science based investigations to tackle evolving security threats. He said technology has made crime more sophisticated, making it necessary for law enforcement agencies to rely on forensic science, cyber intelligence and data analytics in their investigations.
Justice Professor Alaba Omolaye Ajileye also highlighted the growing importance of forensic science in today’s justice system. According to him, scientific evidence now provides courts with more reliable proof than eyewitness testimonies and confessional statements in many cases.
He further drew attention to Section 84 of the Evidence Act 2011, noting that it provides the legal foundation for the admissibility of electronic evidence in Nigerian courts.
