Governor of Enugu state, Dr Peter Mbah on Wednesday,commissioned the Center for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigation ( CeDFOCI) warning Criminals that they can run but cannot hide, adding that every crime scene leaves a trace and the trace can be used as evidence against them.
Governor Mbah who was accompanied by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Olatunji Disu, and the Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Rev. Fr. Prof. Christian Anieke, respectively , described the inauguration of the center as a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against crime, insecurity and injustice.
Gov Mbah
Speaking before the inauguration of the Center at the Godfrey Okoye University, Ugwuomu, ,Enugu, Governor Mbah said the facility was established through a partnership involving the Enugu State Government, Godfrey Okoye University and the DNA Learning Center Nigeria.
He said the centre would significantly strengthen the state’s security architecture and improve the capacity of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute crimes using scientific evidence.
Warning criminals, Mbah said, “Every crime scene leaves a trace and we can now track that trace and use it in evidence against you. For too long many crimes have gone unresolved because the tools did not exist to capture and prosecute you. Now they do.”
According to him, the facility would make it increasingly difficult for criminals to evade justice.
“If you intend to harm our people, if you intend to prey on our children, if you intend to threaten our communities, understand that the state now possesses capability that did not exist previously. This centre changes what is possible,” he said.
The governor noted that security remained the foundation upon which his administration’s economic and development agenda was built.
“Security is not one item on a government’s agenda. It is the foundation upon which everything else rests. Every school we build, every business we attract, every investment we make and every opportunity we create depends on people feeling safe and protected,” Mbah said.
He disclosed that Enugu state had reduced violent crimes by more than 90 per cent since his administration came into office, adding that the state would continue investing in technology and innovation to sustain the gains.
He also described the centre as evidence of Enugu’s determination to embrace science, innovation and future-focused development.
“For too long many people assumed that facilities of this standard would exist somewhere else in Lagos, Abuja, Europe or the United States. Today it exists here. This is not simply about a laboratory; it is about a mindset,” he said..
The governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating an enabling environment through the Renewed Hope Agenda and for supporting efforts to decentralise policing through the state police initiative. He added that the money saved from Tinubu’s policies were shared to States and from that money his administration was able to build infrastructure in the state.
In his remarks, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), described the centre as a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s pursuit of science, technology and innovation-driven development.
“Today marks far more than the opening of a laboratory. It represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of science, technology and innovation-driven development,” Fagbemi said.
The minister noted that modern justice systems across the world increasingly rely on forensic science and DNA evidence to establish facts, identify offenders and exonerate innocent persons.
“Scientific evidence has become the gold standard for determining facts, identifying perpetrators, exonerating the innocent and ensuring that justice is rooted in objective truth rather than speculation,” he stated.
According to him, the facility would provide law enforcement agencies with modern investigative tools, support prosecutors with credible scientific evidence and assist courts in delivering fair and just outcomes.
Fagbemi further said the project aligned with President Tinubu’s vision of strengthening security through technology, innovation and intelligence-led policin
He also linked the project to the Federal Government’s fiscal reforms, saying increased allocations to states had enabled governors to embark on transformative projects.
“Many have asked what state governments are doing with these increased resources. With this and other infrastructure developments I have seen in Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah is providing answers,” he said.
The AGF stressed that discussions around state policing could only succeed if supported by modern forensic infrastructure.
“Whether policing is undertaken at the federal, state or local level, effective law enforcement requires scientific support systems. Facilities like CeDFOCI provide the foundation for building such a modern policing framework,” he said.
IGP Disu
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Olatunji Disu, described the facility as a strategic national asset that would revolutionise criminal investigations and improve the administration of justice across Nigeria.
According to him, modern policing had evolved beyond reliance on eyewitness accounts and confessional statements.
“Criminal investigations are increasingly anchored on forensic science, intelligence, technology and objective evidence capable of withstanding the highest standards of judicial scrutiny,” he said.
The police chief noted that Nigeria’s security challenges, including terrorism, kidnapping, homicide, cybercrime, armed robbery and sexual offences, required advanced scientific solutions.
“DNA analysis has revolutionised criminal investigations everywhere in the world. It enables police officers to identify criminals with remarkable accuracy, exonerate innocent persons, identify missing persons and provide objective evidence that strengthens the administration of justice.
“Science speaks without fear or favour. It simply reveals the truth. For the Nigeria Police Force, this represents the future of professional policing,” Disu stated
The IGP assured that the Nigeria Police Force would fully utilise the facility for investigations, training and research. He granted a request for him to issue a licence to the Centre, describing the Center as his own.
“This is not merely a state asset. It is a strategic national resource. Its impact will extend well beyond the boundaries of Enugu State,” he said.
Earlier, the Founding Director of the Centre, Prof. George Ude, described the facility as a symbol of Africa’s capacity to build institutions that meet global standards.
“What we commission today is an idea, a promise and a future. This facility is a declaration that Africa can build institutions that meet global standards, that science can serve justice, that truth matters and that young people in Nigeria deserve world-class scientific opportunities without leaving their homeland,” Ude said.
He explained that the centre would function not only as a forensic laboratory but also as a research hub and training institution for scientists, law enforcement officers, medical professionals and students.
According to him, the centre would support criminal investigations, strengthen courts with reliable forensic findings and advance research in forensic genetics, genomics and biotechnology.
“The credibility of any forensic institution rests not only on technology but on integrity, governance and ethical rigor. Every result produced here must stand confidently before any court of law within Nigeria and beyond,” he stated.
Ude also unveiled a scientific development fund aimed at supporting first-class graduates and equipping them with practical laboratory skills
VC GO-Uni, Rev
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Rev. Fr. Prof. Christian Anieke, said the facility would place Nigeria and Africa at the forefront of forensic research while helping to simplify criminal investigations.
“What this centre offers Nigeria, and indeed Africa, is a golden opportunity to take the lead in forensic research on tropical ecosystems while simplifying criminal investigations,” Anieke said.
He noted that the centre would enable forensic analysis to be conducted locally rather than sending samples abroad.
“Because forensic analysis can now be conducted locally without exporting samples outside the continent, we can finally take full ownership of our scientific discoveries,” he added.
Anieke described the centre as one of the legacy projects facilitated by Governor Mbah’s administration and commended security agencies and regulatory bodies for supporting its establishment.
He also reaffirmed the university’s commitment to making the facility available to researchers, students, security personnel and institutions seeking advanced forensic services.
The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese and Proprietor of Godfrey Okoye University, Most Rev Dr Callistus Onaga said the commissioning of the DNA centre marked a significant step towards strengthening scientific policing, enhancing justice delivery, improving public safety and positioning Enugu as a leading hub for innovation, research and technology-driven development in Nigeria.
