The Lagos State Government announced on Thursday that its justice sector reforms have resulted in the issuance of 2,342 legal advices, the filing of 1,485 criminal charges, the release of 397 inmates through the Prerogative of Mercy initiative, and savings of over N1.25 billion through Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms between 2023 and 2026.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), disclosed this during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice held at Alausa, Ikeja, to commemorate the third year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
Pedro stated that the administration had continued to strengthen the rule of law, improve access to justice, reduce congestion in custodial centres, and restore public confidence in the justice system through targeted reforms and institutional interventions.
According to him, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions received 2,620 case files for legal advice during the review period and successfully issued 2,342 legal advices, while 279 matters were still pending.
He added that the directorate also filed 1,485 criminal charges and processed 770 plea bargain applications, approving 687 and rejecting 68.
“The activities of the directorate significantly enhanced the efficiency of criminal justice administration, promoted speedy dispensation of justice, reduced unnecessary delays in criminal proceedings and reinforced public confidence in the justice system,” Pedro said.
The Attorney-General disclosed that under the District Prosecutors Scheme, the ministry handled 12,846 case files, approved 11,680 for prosecution, declined 768 cases and returned 18 unresolved files to courts for further proceedings.
Pedro said the ministry handled several high-profile criminal matters during the period, including the Owode Onirin killings involving six traders, the inquest into the death of Master Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of celebrated author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and the detention case involving teenager Michael Adebiyi.
He maintained that legal advice issued by the ministry in such matters remained strictly evidence-based and free from political interference or public pressure.
“We have remained committed to ensuring that legal advice is guided strictly by available evidence and the principles of justice, without fear, favour or external influence,” he said.
Pedro also highlighted major convictions secured by the state government, including the conviction of BRT driver Andrew Nice Ominikoron for the murder of Oluwabamise Ayanwola.
He further noted that medical doctor Olufemi Olaleye and cleric Chris McDouglas Omosekpea were sentenced to life imprisonment in separate rape and defilement cases prosecuted by the state.
According to him, the murder trial of alleged “Killaboi” suspect Benjamin Best Nnanyereugo, alongside several other high-profile criminal matters, is still pending before the Lagos High Court.
On custodial centre decongestion, the Attorney-General disclosed that 397 inmates were released from correctional facilities across the state through the Prerogative of Mercy initiative between 2023 and 2025.
He said the Lagos State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy reviewed 963 applications during the period, recommended 397 inmates for release, commuted nine death sentences to life imprisonment and granted one full pardon.
“The prerogative of mercy is the constitutional power vested in the governor to grant relief to persons convicted of criminal offences. It is an act of grace exercised in deserving circumstances to mitigate the rigours of the law,” Pedro explained.
He added that the initiative formed part of broader criminal justice reforms aimed at rehabilitation, fairness and decongestion of custodial centres.
Pedro further revealed that the Directorate of Advisory Services and Judicial Liaison resolved about 3,000 petitions out of nearly 5,000 received during the review period.
According to him, the directorate issued approximately 1,500 legal advices, attended nearly 500 disciplinary board meetings and conducted more than 2,000 pre-action protocol meetings.
“During the period under review, the directorate prioritised ADR and conflict resolution over litigation, resulting in significant financial savings for the State Government and the restoration of public trust through amicable settlement of grievances,” he stated.
The Attorney-General said one of the directorate’s most significant achievements was the successful mediation of a copyright infringement dispute involving a state agency.
He explained that the intervention reduced a potential liability exposure of more than N1.26bn to a settlement sum of N3m, thereby saving the state government over N1.25bn.
Pedro added that the directorate also facilitated the amicable resolution of several pension, gratuity, land, contractual and welfare-related disputes, reducing pressure on the courts and promoting administrative stability.
In a related development, Pedro disclosed that the Office of the Administrator-General and Public Trustee resolved 8,112 estate-related petitions and facilitated the payment of over N769.6m to beneficiaries between May 2023 and April 2026.
He said the office received 9,826 petitions during the period, representing an 85 per cent resolution rate, while over 3,000 estates were partitioned to ensure prompt distribution of inheritance to beneficiaries.
Pedro further stated that the office generated more than N221.1m in revenue for the Lagos State Government and handled over 320 estate-related matters before magistrates and high courts across the state.
