The Enugu State Government, in strategic partnership with Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI) and the DNA Learning Centre Nigeria, has officially commissioned the Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigation (CeDFoCI).
The landmark facility, located at the university’s Ugwuomu complex in Nike, Enugu, aims to completely eliminate speculation from criminal investigations by deploying advanced empirical science.
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Speaking at the event, the state Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, issued a stern warning to criminally minded individuals, declaring that the era of unresolved crimes in the state was over.
He emphasised that the facility represents one of the most critical investments made by his administration to secure the state, align with its Citizens’ Charter, and assure investors that Enugu is open for business.
“To the criminals, I say this: every crime scene leaves a trace. And we can now track that trace and use it as 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. Therefore, 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 capabilities that did not previously exist. You can run, but you cannot hide,” the Governor warned.
He noted that the arrival of high-tech forensic capabilities requires a cultural shift in how citizens behave during incidents.
Governor Mbah urged residents to avoid tampering with crime scenes, explaining that biological traces are easily compromised.
“Henceforth, when crimes occur, keep a safe distance, promptly alert the authorities, and allow trained professionals to carry out their work. Every footprint, fingerprint, strand of hair, blood sample, or biological trace may contain crucial evidence. Once contaminated, such evidence may be lost,” Mbah cautioned.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Professor Christian Anieke, traced the state’s security transformation back to October 2022, when Dr. Mbah first presented his manifesto at the university.
Professor Anieke lauded the Governor’s systematic dismantling of security threats, starting with the eradication of the Monday sit-at-home order, followed by the deployment of AI-embedded Distress Response Service (DRS) vehicles, state-wide surveillance cameras, and high-tech tracking drones.
“Today, our governor has taken the war against crime to the highest level of modern warfare. With the establishment of this center, the state has eased the work of security officers by deploying empirical science rather than conjecture, and irrefutable arguments rooted in reason rather than logical explanations in criminal investigations and the delivery of justice,” Professor Anieke said
Paternity/Maternity Testing
The Vice Chancellor also noted that, once fully approved by regulatory authorities, the center will settle family controversies by providing conclusive paternity and maternity testing, while 98% of the facility’s scientists will be young Nigerian scholars under the age of 40.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, commended the initiative.
He described it as a bold statement that Nigeria is prepared to deploy cutting-edge scientific tools to advance justice, public health, and national security.
The Attorney General highlighted that the project serves as an exemplary model of synergy between state government, academia, and the private sector.
“The establishment of CeDFoCI places Enugu State and Nigeria on the path of advanced jurisdictions that have integrated forensic science into the core of their security and justice architecture.
“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. This facility will equip law enforcement agencies with modern tools for criminal investigations, provide prosecutors with credible scientific evidence, and assist the courts in reaching just outcomes,” Fagbemi stated.
The Attorney General also linked the project to the broader fiscal reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which have increased revenue allocations to subnational governments.
He praised Governor Mbah for utilising these resources prudently, noting that the center answers the public’s question regarding what states are doing with increased funding.
Furthermore, Fagbemi referenced the ongoing constitutional debates regarding state policing, asserting that “modern policing cannot succeed without modern forensic and investigative infrastructure,” making this facility a vital national asset.
Corroborating this view, the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, who attended the event fully prepared alongside top police brass—including the DIG for the Southeast, the AIG Medical, and the CP in charge of forensics—declared the center a strategic national resource whose impact will extend far beyond the borders of Enugu State.
Remarkable Transformation
“Across the globe, policing has undergone a remarkable transformation. Criminal investigation no longer depends solely on eyewitnesses or confessional statements.
“They are increasingly anchored on forensic science, intelligence technology, and objective evidence capable of withstanding the highest standards of judicial scrutiny. For the Nigeria Police Force, this center represents enormous opportunities for strengthening investigations into homicide, kidnapping, terrorism, armed robbery, sexual offenses, human trafficking, missing persons, and other cases of grave crimes,.” IGP Disu explained.
Reflecting on the history of the university’s location, IGP Disu paid tribute to the foresight of the late Bishop Godfrey Okoye, the second Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, who acquired the land in 1973 when it was a neglected dump site.
The IGP remarked that seeing a world-class science hub built on that very ground is proof of a lasting legacy that brings solace and progress to the community.
Core Mission
The Founding Director and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the DNA Learning Centre, Professor George Ude, outlined the core mission of the new establishment.
He emphasised that CeDFoCI was built to ensure that criminal justice in Nigeria is anchored in scientific truth, to provide courts with defensible findings, and to train the next generation of forensic scientists, medical professionals, and law enforcement officers.
Supporting this vision, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga (represented by Rev. Fr. Victor Eze), delivered a goodwill message praising the collaboration.
He noted that nation-building is a collective responsibility.
“While the Church forms conscience and provides moral values, the state provides the structure for justice and security,” he sated.
With its pristine environment featuring green spaces and natural lakes, Godfrey Okoye University stands ready as a serene sanctuary where hardcore science will work hand-in-hand with environmental purity to transform justice in Africa.
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