Lawyer petitions Lagos AG, accuses DPP of frustrating 15 Chinese nationals’ trial
By Innocent Anaba
A Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mr. Ken Nwanna, has submitted a petition to the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, expressing concerns over developments surrounding a case involving his client that is currently before Justice Adesanya of the Lagos High Court.
Nwanna also alleged that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has contributed to delays in the matter, which was instituted in 2024 but has yet to reach the arraignment stage for the Chinese nationals charged in connection with offences including forgery of residence permits, human trafficking, conspiracy, misdemeanour, and actions likely to cause a breach of public peace.
Acting on behalf of the nominal complainant, the lawyer claimed there were ongoing efforts to obstruct the prosecution of the defendants in Charge No. LD/24383C/24, IGP v. Wang Kepeng & 16 Others, a matter being handled by the Inspector-General of Police before Justice Adesanya.
According to Nwanna, prior to the filing of charges before the Lagos High Court, the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja, conducted extensive investigations into the allegations. He stated that investigators established a prima facie case indicating that the accused persons, allegedly working with others, forged Nigerian expatriate quotas and residence permits for personal use, prompting the police to institute criminal proceedings against them.
He further maintained that since the charges were filed in 2024, the 15 Chinese defendants have repeatedly failed to appear in court for arraignment and plea-taking.
The lawyer noted that the claims advanced by the foreign nationals had already been examined during the police investigation, which ultimately concluded that sufficient grounds existed for them to answer the allegations before the court.
Nwanna stated that while his client anticipated the commencement of trial proceedings, they were surprised to receive a letter referenced LJP/MISC/2025/21 from the DPP through the Attorney General’s office, requesting a duplicate copy of the case file for “review and legal advice,” despite the fact that the prosecution is being conducted by the Inspector-General of Police.
He said: “Our client is compelled to question whose interests the DPP seeks to protect in this matter. We respectfully submit that any effort, whether direct or indirect, to hinder prosecution or shield these high-profile foreign nationals from facing trial would not advance the public interest or the cause of justice and could amount to an abuse of legal process.
“Rather than submit to the jurisdiction of the court and respond to the allegations, the defendants appear intent on avoiding trial through petitions and other forms of interference. The Office of the Attorney General, as a respected public institution, should not be perceived as endorsing or facilitating any misuse of authority or undue influence.”
The lawyer also argued that the Attorney General’s office should refrain from intervening in the case because one of the charges relates to human trafficking, a federal offence that falls outside the prosecutorial authority of the state government under Section 211(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He therefore appealed to the Attorney General, urging the office to allow the judicial process to proceed unhindered.
“In view of the foregoing, we respectfully urge your office to permit the due process of law to run its full course without interference, obstruction, or any appearance of compromise,” he stated.