The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has tracked a staggering 73,962 criminal cases and recovered over ₦10 billion in the past year, underscoring its commitment to strengthening the rule of law and justice delivery in the state.
Hon. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), announced these significant strides at the ongoing Y2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held on Wednesday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, as part of activities commemorating the second year of the second term the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration in the State.
Mr. Pedro highlighted the Ministry’s relentless pursuit of justice as a practical necessity for Lagos’s over 20 million residents. “Within the period under review, the ministry processed a total of 73,962 criminal cases across the state’s correctional facilities; over 10,000 of these between January 2024 and May 2025 alone,” he stated.
This remarkable achievement, he noted, was largely facilitated by the Lagos Criminal Information System (LCIS), a comprehensive databank that has significantly improved transparency and coordination within the state’s justice system.
Addressing the challenge of correctional facility congestion, which currently operates at 106% above built capacity, Mr. Pedro revealed the expansion of non-custodial measures, including community service sentencing. “We have supervised the community service of 10,120 offenders across 18 locations, thereby reducing congestion and enabling restorative justice,” he explained.
In a bid to curb social disorder, the Attorney-General reported that the Special Offences Mobile Court has been instrumental. “We arrested, arraigned, and secured convictions for 71,023 offenders for minor offences ranging from traffic violations to street trading and vandalism. This has had a measurable impact in deterring miscreants and preserving order across Lagos,” he emphasised.
The Ministry also made significant progress in economic and civil justice. The Citizens Mediation Bureau successfully resolved 141,404 out of 214,342 matters received, recovering a substantial ₦2.2 billion for aggrieved parties. Furthermore, the Office of the Administrator-General and Public Trustee tackled over 620 estate petitions, resolving 566 cases and disbursing ₦1.27 billion to beneficiaries, while generating ₦2.35 billion in revenue for the state.
Public legal aid initiatives saw the Public Advisory Centre respond to 197,649 citizen inquiries, and the Bureau of Public Defender secure 1,323 court judgments, recovering ₦291 million for vulnerable Lagosians. The Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency handled over 8,000 distinct cases of abuse and trauma, reaching more than 6 million people through advocacy and outreach, and directly assisting over 4,000 survivors with counselling services.
Infrastructure development and staff welfare also received considerable attention. Mr. Pedro announced the commissioning of a new Commercial Court at Tapa and the reconstruction of the J.I.C. Taylor Court House, now boasting 24 courtrooms. Also, for the first time, the Governor approved the construction of 34 three-bedroom flats for Magistrates’ Quarters, with 10 also allocated to State Counsel.
Economically, the Directorate of Commercial Law generated over ₦6.5 billion through its legal advisory and agreement drafting services, underscoring the Ministry’s role in fostering investor confidence through legal clarity.
On the legislative front, newly passed laws include the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Law, Victims Assistance and Witness Protection Law, and the Fire and Rescue Service Law, with several other bills, including Tenancy Reform and Domestic Violence Protection, awaiting House action.
The Attorney-General also highlighted a significant collaboration between the Ministry of Justice and the ECOWAS Community Court. A sensitisation outreach in Lagos, graced by top dignitaries, aimed at deepening public understanding of the ECOWAS Court’s role and jurisdiction among Nigerians and West Africans, positioning Lagos as a hub for international and regional legal cooperation.
Mr. Pedro concluded by reiterating the Ministry’s commitment to continuous innovation and empathy in addressing the challenges of a growing and diverse state, promising an even more accessible and responsive justice system for all Lagosians.
GA/TMS/KO
