Experts see Lagos’ first DNA centre reducing crime, cutting cost

The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and forensic centre, first of the kind, opened in Lagos, Wednesday, may well mark a new beginning for crime detection and resolution in Nigeria, just as it presents opportunity to save huge foreign exchange expended in accessing reliable DNA and forensic analysis outside the country.
Over the years, almost all DNA analysis and testing have been performed abroad, a situation that caused longer turn-around times and an overall higher cost of bringing closure to forensic investigations.
In 2012, the Lagos State government in its bid to identify mangled human bodies from the Dana Air crash of June 3, at Iju-Ishaga area of the state, in which about 153 persons died, had to collect DNA samples from victims’ relations and fly them abroad for analysis at a huge cost to the state.
Experts say the new DNA and forensic centre in Lagos, is a huge resource that will help in better security and identification of persons and therefore create a saner society.
The centre is also seen working to aid and enhance the National Identity Management System (NIMS) which Chris Onyemenam, a former Director General/CEO of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) believes is required to detect fraudsters.

“The ability to create a single version of truth of the identities of individuals that will serve the entire country is very necessary. If you don’t know people and they commit a crime, they can deny it. If someone is able to have more than one identity, then they can benefit from their own acts of deception.
Today, advance fee fraud, popularly known as 419 is rampant because people can claim to be who they are not and still get away with it. So in terms of fighting crime, it is important because you can’t hide from yourself after having been identified,” Onyemenam said.
Other experts including Imohimi Edgal, acting Commissioner of Police (CP), Lagos State command, say with the DNA and Forensic centre now in place, the police and other security agencies will turn the tide against criminals. “We have a lot of pending high profile cases that we have not resolved. We intend to revisit these cases with the help of this new centre,” says Edgal.
Edgal’s view is corroborated by Abayomi Olonishakin, a Major General and Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, who sees the establishment of the centre as a significant milestone in the country’s fight against all forms of crime, including terrorism.
The security experts believe that with the centre, Nigeria stands to save huge foreign exchange expended patronising DNA and forensic services abroad.
The new DNA centre funded and owned by the Lagos State Government, comes with state-of-the-art equipment to provide the police, prosecutors, defence attorneys and private citizens with crime scene processing, as well as serological screening for blood and semen. It is also equipped for DNA analysis of bone, tooth and hair, detection of maternal and paternal relationship, expert witness and case handling services; paternal and maternal ancestry DNA analysis; cold case file review and mass disaster human identification.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, at the unveiling of the centre located on Odunlami Street, Lagos Island, yesterday, said with it, Nigeria is joining other countries of the world which have embraced technology to make life easier for their citizens in every sphere.
With this achieved, Ambode said the state would be moving to the second stage of building additional capacity in the areas of toxicology, trace evidence and controlled substance analysis, fingerprint and latent prints, firearms, ballistics and tool marks, digital forensics; and questioned documents examination.
“This is a significant milestone and symbolic manifestation of our administration policies in reforming the justice sector, in line with the vision of making Lagos safe for residents and investors.
“From the domestic front to our places of work; from the way we learn, to doing business, the use of technology has become a way of life. You will therefore understand why our administration had no hesitation in approving this project which serves amongst other things, as an effective method of bringing perpetrators of crime to book and ensuring quick dispensation of justice,” he said.
He noted that the centre is another evidence of the resolve of the state government to stay ahead of criminals through scientific-led investigations.
“I am also convinced that the establishment of the Lagos DNA and Forensic Centre will improve the speed and quality of evidence collected to assist our courts in the quick dispensation of justice. This centre is a definite boost for our administration’s justice sector reform. It shows that our covenant with Lagosians to create a safe and secure state is being kept,”Ambode said.
John Bray, Consul-General of the United States Embassy in Lagos, lauded the achievement by Lagos State, saying it will boost justice and progress.
Adeniji Kazeem, the Lagos State commissioner for justice and attorney-general, said the centre would enable the state build a reliable DNA database that would enable investigators and law enforcement officers identify crime patterns and suspects, and also help exonerate or convict suspects.

 

JOSHUA BASSEY