Working for Human Rights in Justice

CORONER LAW PROJECT

For decades, many Nigerians have lost their lives to illicit killings by law enforcement and military operatives. A majority of these operatives often went unpunished because they were able to place “labels” on the killed, making the killings look excusable. The days of placing convenient labels on extrajudicial homicides appear to be drawing to a close. Working with Access to Justice, Lagos State passed a new coroner law in May 2007 to establish a careful and compulsory process of death investigation and related matters. The Coroners’ System Law expresses the state’s interest in the safety and lives of every one of its citizens .It aims to establish the true cause of death in questionable circumstances, such as those involving police brutality, medical and environmental negligence, as well as epidemic outbreaks and geological hazards. Such information would enhance the ability of the state government to prevent similar deaths in the future.

To popularize the new law among stakeholders and media organizations, the Lagos State Ministry of Justice organized a one day Media Interactive Workshop on May 21, 2008. The workshop addressed the reforms contained in the new coroner law and the responsibilities it places on justice stakeholders, the police, medical practitioners, and other citizens in determining the cause of questionable deaths in Lagos State.
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