LAGOS, Nigeria – Lagos State Government has raised the alarm over the worsening congestion in custodial centres across the state, revealing that the facilities are operating at 106 per cent above their built capacity as of May 2025.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), during the ministerial press briefing to commemorate the second year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office, held in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to Pedro, “the combined population in the custodial facilities was 9,096 as at May 2025,” a figure that starkly exceeds the facilities’ intended capacity.
He noted that this crisis has prompted the state to leverage technology and legal reforms to decongest the correctional system and expedite justice delivery.
A key reform, he said, is the Lagos Criminal Information System (LCIS) — a centralised databank created to automate processes within the criminal justice system.
“The LCIS is a crime data register that serves as a repository of data of persons who have been in contact with the Criminal Justice System in the State through the courts,” Pedro explained.
He added that the platform contains detailed records, including biometrics and photographs of defendants, and tracks both those in custody and on bail.
“The system recorded a total of 73,962 cases/inmates between 2018 and May 2025, and over 10,000 suspects/cases were processed between January 2024 and May 2025 alone,” he revealed.
One major trend from the LCIS data is the soaring adoption of plea bargaining.
According to Pedro, “64 per cent of convictions reported between January 2024 and May 2025 were plea bargain convictions. This is an indication that more suspects are exploring the plea bargain options in Lagos State.”
Plea bargains, often involving negotiated sentences in exchange for guilty pleas, are seen as an efficient way to resolve cases without protracted trials.
Pedro pointed out that this shift is not only reducing pressure on the prisons but also speeding up the adjudication of criminal matters.
“We aim to integrate technology into crime prevention, investigation, and trial, including the creation of virtual rooms within the Ministry of Justice to protect witnesses and reduce costs,” he said.
Despite these efforts, the Attorney-General acknowledged persistent systemic challenges.
He cited that the top crime locations during the review period were Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Lekki, while the majority of processed suspects originated from Ogun and Oyo States.
As part of humanitarian and constitutional interventions, Pedro also disclosed that 163 inmates were recommended for release under the prerogative of mercy, while seven death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment, and one inmate received a full pardon.
