By Wellington Jopelo
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice says it has recorded major achievements in justice delivery, infrastructure, public safety, and access to justice as part of reforms under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), made this known during the 2026 ministerial press briefing held at the Baguda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.
He said the ministry is working to build a justice system that is faster, more digital, more transparent, and easier for residents to access.
One of the major achievements is the commissioning and renovation of key justice infrastructure, including the Police Area Command “M” Headquarters in Idimu and the new Commercial Court in Tapa, Lagos Island.
He also said the government renovated the J.I.C. Taylor Courthouse damaged during the End SARS protests, now providing 24 courtrooms for both High Courts and Magistrate Courts.
The state also built 34 housing units in Ketu for magistrates and state counsel, with 10 units allocated to legal officers in the ministry for the first time.
According to Pedro, the Lagos Criminal Information System recorded over 35,000 criminal cases in the last three years, bringing the total to more than 84,000 cases since it was created.
He said the system now tracks arrests, trials, bail, convictions, and inmate records across courts in the state, helping to improve case management and monitoring.
The ministry also reported strong results from its agencies, including the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, which handled over 20,000 cases involving abuse, harassment, and related offences.
Other agencies such as the Citizens’ Mediation Bureau and Bureau of the Public Defender also resolved thousands of disputes and court cases while recovering funds for citizens and saving the state billions of naira in legal battles.
Pedro said the government also secured a court judgment regulating public protests, restricting them to approved locations to balance public order and citizens’ rights.
The Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers received over 1,600 petitions, resolved many cases, and prosecuted offenders involved in illegal land activities across the state.
He added that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions secured hundreds of convictions, including high-profile criminal cases, while civil litigation saved the state billions in potential losses.
The ministry also generated significant revenue through commercial law activities and public-private partnership projects, including transport reform and energy development plans.
Pedro said Lagos has also passed and reviewed key laws covering electricity, consumer protection, domestic violence, tenancy, and witness protection to modernise governance.
He concluded that the ministry remains committed to continuous reform, saying the goal is to ensure justice is not only delivered, but also felt and experienced by all residents of Lagos State.