Lagos Assembly Passes Bill on DNA, Forensic Centre

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed a bill for a law to establish the Lagos State Deoxyribo-Nucleic Acid (DNA) and Forensic Centre.

A statement issued on Monday by Mr Eromosele Ebhomele, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, disclosed that the bill aims to support criminal investigations, law enforcement, preservation of evidence for the judicial system and for other connected purposes.

It was disclosed that the piece of legislature was passed by the House after it scaled the third reading at plenary on Monday with all lawmakers in attendance giving their approvals.

A part of the objectives of the centre is to provide for the use and regulation of DNA-based technology in Lagos State in order to carry out profiling or analysis.

The centre is to also “carry out other forensic disciplines including, toxicology, drug chemistry, fingerprint examination, firearms examination, tool mark examination, ballistics, trace evidence analysis, questioned document examination and digital forensics to obtain evidence relevant to the investigation of criminal offences.

“Provide for the use of DNA profiles in the investigation of crime and the use of such profiles in proving the innocence or guilt of persons and provide for the conditions under which the samples for DNA profiles may be retained or destroyed.”

In addition, the bill will ensure the establishment of “a DNA database and a DNA Index System in the State as well as establish a DNA bank for storage of reference DNA samples.”

The bill gives powers to the centre to take specified bodily samples from certain categories of persons for the purposes of DNA analysis; collect, examine, document and preserve evidence which can later be used in the identification of offenders among others.

The bill also allows the centre to decode family ties and relationships of individuals in order to establish an identity as well as the identification of abandoned or disputed children and other related issues.

The centre is expected to recommend methods for optimum use of DNA techniques and technologies for the administration of justice.