Ogun Justice Ministry Warns Against Criminalizing Civil Disputes

The Ogun State Ministry of Justice issued a statement on Saturday, clarifying its advisory regarding the criminalization of civil disputes. Attorney General Oluwasina Ogungbad explained that the ministry's advisory, released on February 18, aimed to caution against the increasing trend of treating civil and domestic disputes as criminal complaints.

This practice misleads law enforcement agencies and diverts their attention from genuine criminal matters. The statement noted that police are obligated to investigate complaints, which can sometimes lead to the detention of individuals during ongoing investigations.

The ministry stressed that misusing the criminal justice system for civil matters could burden security agencies and expose the state to unnecessary costs and potential human rights liabilities. Ogungbad praised the Ogun State Police Command for understanding the distinction between civil and criminal jurisdictions and urged the public, including lawyers and activists, to respect the statutory roles of law enforcement to avoid unnecessary involvement in civil disputes.