From left: Permanent Secretary, Citizen Mediation Bureau, Mrs. Olarewaju Aderinsola; Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Hameed Oyenuga; Anttony-General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro and Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, during the Lagos State Government Year 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing by the Ministry of Justice in Commemoration of the 7th Years in Office of Gov. Sanwo-Olu in Lagos.
By Kayode Olopade
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has unveiled far-reaching reforms and landmark achievements aimed at strengthening justice administration, improving public safety, protecting investments and expanding access to justice across the state.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, disclosed this on Thursday during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing commemorating the third year of the second term of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu at the Baguda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
Pedro said the ministry had repositioned the justice sector through institutional reforms, digital innovation, infrastructural renewal and legislative interventions designed to make Lagos a safer, investment-friendly and law-governed megacity.
He noted that the ministry’s reforms were anchored on the recommendations of the Lagos Justice Sector Reform Summit themed, “Enhancing the Administration of Justice for Economic Growth, Investment Protection and Security in Lagos State.”
According to him, the state government completed and commissioned several strategic justice infrastructure projects, including the Nigerian Police Area M Command headquarters in Idimu, a new commercial court complex in Tapa, Lagos Island, and the renovated J.I.C. Taylor Courthouse destroyed during the EndSARS unrest.
The Attorney-General disclosed that the state also procured 34 three-bedroom apartments in Ketu as official quarters for magistrates and state counsel, describing the initiative as the first of its kind in Lagos and Nigeria.
He added that the government commissioned a modern Deputy Sheriff Warehouse in Majidun, Ikorodu, renovated sections of the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre and procured buses for correctional services to ease inmate transportation and reduce delays in criminal trials.
Pedro further revealed that the ministry had intensified efforts to tackle land grabbing across the state through the Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, which received 1,628 petitions between May 2023 and April 2026, concluding 221 cases and prosecuting several offenders.
He, however, lamented what he described as poor enforcement cooperation from some police authorities, saying the ministry would seek renewed collaboration with the Inspector-General of Police to strengthen anti-land-grabbing operations.
On domestic and sexual violence, the commissioner said the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency handled over 20,000 cases ranging from rape and defilement to cyberbullying and emotional abuse within the review period.
He explained that the agency introduced technological innovations such as the *6820# USSD support code and “Ask INU,” a WhatsApp-based artificial intelligence chatbot for confidential reporting and survivor support.
Pedro said Lagos retained its position as Nigeria’s leading state in the prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence for the third consecutive year.
The Attorney-General also highlighted the activities of the Special Offences Mobile Court, which prosecuted 58,342 environmental, traffic and social disorder cases between 2023 and March 2026.
According to him, the court generated over N155.3 million in revenue while enforcing laws against street trading, traffic violations, obstruction of highways and sanitation offences.
He disclosed that the Citizens’ Mediation Bureau received 117,575 disputes during the period under review and successfully resolved 49,854 matters, recovering over N1.49 billion for residents through mediation.
Similarly, the Bureau of the Public Defender handled 42,050 court cases, secured 1,759 judgments and recovered more than N301 million on behalf of indigent and vulnerable residents.
Pedro said the ministry also revitalised the Lagos State Task Force Against Human Trafficking, inaugurated 114 anti-trafficking desk officers and focal persons across local governments, and successfully repatriated seven Nigerian trafficking victims from Ghana in 2025.
On criminal justice reforms, the Attorney-General said the Lagos Criminal Information System recorded 35,461 criminal cases within the last three years, bringing the total number of cases captured on the platform to 84,297.
He explained that the digital platform now tracks suspects on bail, defendants in custody and ongoing criminal trials, thereby improving criminal data management and justice administration.
The commissioner further revealed that stealing-related offences accounted for 44.7 per cent of criminal cases recorded in the state, while Eti-Osa and the Lekki-Ajah corridor recorded the highest crime prevalence.
Pedro also announced ongoing legislative reforms, including proposed amendments to the Tenancy Law and the Administration of Civil Justice Bill aimed at reducing delays in civil litigation and resolving tenancy disputes within six months.
He said several landmark laws had already received gubernatorial assent, including the Lagos State Electricity Law, Victim Assistance and Witness Protection Law, Human Organ Harvest and Tissue Transplantation Law and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Law.
The Attorney-General stated that the Directorate of Civil Litigation helped the state avoid financial liabilities exceeding N96.6 billion through successful defence of high-value lawsuits.
He added that the Directorate of Commercial Law generated over N5.5 billion in revenue while supporting strategic projects such as the Lagos Bus Reform Initiative, waterfront developments and power purchase agreements expected to boost electricity generation by 400 megawatts within three years.
Pedro reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to building a justice system that is efficient, technology-driven, accessible and people-oriented.
“We remain committed to ensuring that justice is not only done but seen, felt and experienced by every resident of Lagos State,” he said
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