By Olasunkanmi Akoni

LAGOS — The Lagos State Government has raised alarm over the rising congestion in custodial centres across the state, revealing that facilities have exceeded their designed capacity by 106% as of May 2025.

This was disclosed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), during a ministerial press briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, as part of activities marking the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat in office.

Pedro stated that the combined inmate population in custodial centres stood at 9,096, far surpassing the facilities’ intended capacity, and underscored the urgent need for technology-driven solutions and legal reforms to address the crisis.

“We have adopted strategic innovations to decongest our correctional facilities and speed up justice delivery,” he said.

A cornerstone of these reforms is the Lagos Criminal Information System (LCIS) — a centralized digital databank designed to automate criminal justice processes and house comprehensive records of individuals who have interacted with the justice system in Lagos.

Pedro explained that the LCIS contains biometrics, photographs, and case details of suspects, tracking both those in custody and those out on bail.

“Between 2018 and May 2025, the system recorded 73,962 cases/inmates, with over 10,000 suspects/cases processed between January 2024 and May 2025 alone,” he disclosed.

One notable trend is the growing use of plea bargaining, which Pedro described as both a time-saving and cost-efficient method of handling criminal cases.

“Between January 2024 and May 2025, 64% of convictions were secured through plea bargains — a sign that more suspects are embracing the option to avoid lengthy trials.”

Pedro emphasized that plea bargaining has significantly eased the burden on custodial centres and sped up adjudication, while virtual courtrooms and witness protection rooms are being developed to cut down legal costs and ensure safety.

Despite these innovations, Pedro acknowledged lingering systemic challenges, including geographic crime hotspots like Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Lekki, with many offenders originating from neighboring states such as Ogun and Oyo.

As part of constitutional and humanitarian interventions, he noted that 163 inmates were recommended for release under the Prerogative of Mercy, seven death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment, and one inmate received a full pardon.

Further highlighting the state’s justice efforts, Pedro reported that: The Directorate of Citizens’ Rights received 6,601 petitions, resolved 4,443, referred 285 to other MDAs, while 1,882 remain pending.

The Directorate secured two judgments in favour of the Lagos State Government.

A total of N7.3 million was recovered on behalf of complainants, with N3 million awarded by court order.

He also announced the establishment of the Public Advisory Centre, aimed at providing free legal guidance and helping citizens understand their rights and the services offered by government agencies.

“Our goal remains to provide accessible, technology-enabled, and speedy justice for all Lagosians,” Pedro concluded.