Lagos State Assembly passes bill to protect accident victims, prosecution witnesses
Lagos State Assembly has passed the bill protecting victims and witnesses in helping in the prosecution of criminals as well as accidents and gunshot victims.
This was made known in a statement made available to Vondigest Thursday, September 22.
As contained in the statement, the bill was passed during plenary presided over by the Speaker of the parliament, Mudashiru Obasa.
The bill stipulates provision of assistance and protection to victims and witnesses who have vital information that could help ensure effective prosecution of cases.
Henceforth, informants will no longer face intimidation due to their cooperation with the prosecution or law enforcement agencies.
The stipulation of the bill holds that assistance and protection will be rendered to victims and witnesses with vital information to aid prosecution but face intimidation from external forces due to their cooperation with law enforcement.
A part of the bill further states: “Every person, including security agents shall render assistance to victims of accidents or crimes and ensure that such persons are taken to the nearest hospital.
“A public or private hospital shall provide immediate and adequate treatment to an accident victim or any person with gunshot and severe injuries or wounds.”
“A private hospital that receives accident victims with severe injuries or wounds for treatment under this section must inform the agency within 48 hours of admission.”
The hospital can then forward a request for reimbursement of medical expenses to the family members or relations.
In cases they cannot be identified or where the victim is indigent, subject to the approval of the request by a Lagos agency, hospitals shall forward records of the treatment to the government.
Obasa directed the Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, to send a clean copy to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his assent.
