Nigeria Losing Criminal Cases Over Weak Evidence, Says Sanwo‑Olu

…Advocates forensic‑led investigations
By Juliet Umeh & Esther Chukwuchebem

LAGOS—Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu of Lagos State has warned that Nigeria is losing thousands of criminal cases each year because of weak and insufficient evidence, saying the trend erodes the administration of justice and hampers efforts to combat emerging crimes.

Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Global Forensics Summit in Lagos, Sanwo‑Olu explained that many criminal cases collapse in court not because suspects are unavailable, but because investigators fail to present evidence that can withstand judicial scrutiny.

Represented by the pioneer Permanent Secretary of the Citizens’ Mediation Bureau, CMB, Mrs. Aderinsola Olanrewaju, the governor described the problem as a “forensic gap” and urged wider adoption of forensic science and criminal intelligence tools in investigations.

He said, “Every year, thousands of criminal cases in Nigeria stall, not for want of witnesses, not for want of suspects, but for want of evidence that can withstand scrutiny in the court of law.”

He added, “The gap between investigative findings and what prosecutors can prove in many cases is a forensic gap. Closing that gap is precisely why this summit matters.”

Sanwo‑Olu noted that Lagos, with a population of over 22 million, faces increasingly sophisticated crimes, including cybercrime, digital fraud, identity theft and financial manipulation, and therefore requires greater investment in forensic technology.

He recalled that Lagos established West Africa’s first DNA and Forensic Centre in 2017, calling it a landmark initiative that introduced scientific rigor into criminal investigations.

The governor also praised the International Academy of Forensics, IAF, for creating a platform for collaboration among stakeholders in the justice sector and pledged continued support for forensic experts, security agencies and professional institutions.

The four‑day summit, organised by the International Academy of Forensics in partnership with The Guardian Newspaper Nigeria, 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, Prof. Dele Olowokudejo, noted that technological advancement has transformed both crime 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, represented by Justice Olutoyin Ipaye, stressed the need for science‑driven investigations to address evolving criminal threats.

“Technology has escalated criminality. Technology must also be deployed to tackle the menace of crime. Investigations must be forensic‑driven and science‑led, while cyber intelligence and data analytics must become the watchwords,” he said.

Justice Prof. Alaba Omolaye‑Ajileye, in his remarks, said forensic science had become indispensable to modern justice systems, enabling courts to rely more on objective scientific evidence than on eyewitness accounts and confessional statements.

He also highlighted the importance of Section 84 of the Evidence Act 2011, which provides the legal framework for the admissibility of electronic evidence in Nigerian courts.