The Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Titilayo Shitta-Bey-Jeje, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the legal clinic at the weekend, said the gesture was to strengthen the administration of justice in the state by promoting the rights of citizens and ensuring that residents have unfettered access to justice.

Represented by the Director of Citizens Mediation Centre, Mrs. Biola Oseni, the perm. sec. noted that the directorates and agencies in the Ministry of Justice offer free services in one or more areas which include family disputes, landlord/tenant issues, and domestic violence against women and children, among others.

She explained that the joint free legal clinic, which is held annually at various communities across the state, “aims to take legal consultation closer to the people while sensitising residents to their rights in accordance with the law and to ensure justice and promote peace and harmony among the citizens.”

The Chairman, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Mr. Abdullahi Olowa, represented by the Supervisor for Agriculture and Social Services, Kareem Muyideen, expressed gratitude to the ministry for the free legal initiative

Also, the paramount ruler of Ibeju kingdom, Oba Wasiu Oguntolu 1, urged residents of Ibeju-Lekki to embrace and make the best of the free legal services.

Recall that her death occurred amid the school’s inter-house sports activities on Thursday, February 9 at the Agege Stadium.

In a statement by the Director, Public Affairs of the ministry, Alo Grace, on Saturday, it read, “Adeniran’s death was as a result of asphyxia and electrocution, as indicated by an autopsy conducted by Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

“The Lagos State Ministry of Justice is aware of the current ongoing dialogue about the alleged plans to exhume the body of the late Whitney Omodesola Adeniran, a student of Chrisland Schools whose death as revealed by the autopsy, conducted by Lagos State University Teaching Hospital was as a result of asphyxia and electrocution,” the statement reads in part.

Whilst we have not received any such official communication requesting for exhumation, however, if and when we do receive such a request, we shall be opposed to it.

“In any event, the circumstances for exhumation under the Coroners’ Systems Law, 2015 do not arise in this case. Additionally, it is not our intention to further traumatise the deceased’s family.”

Meanwhile, the ministry noted that it was working closely with the police who had reportedly given their reassurance that the duplicate case file would be forwarded on Monday, March 6, 2023, to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to aid the speedy issuance of legal advice.