The Lagos State Ministry of Justice participated in a specialised training on Non-Custodial Sentencing hosted by the United Kingdom Ministry of Justice on Tuesday, 31st March 2026, at the Kingfisher Club, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The training, an initiative of the UK Ministry of Justice, forms part of ongoing collaboration between both jurisdictions aimed at strengthening criminal justice administration through knowledge exchange and institutional capacity building.
Representing the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, expressed his appreciation to the UK Home Office Team in Nigeria and the UK Ministry of Justice for their continued partnership and commitment to justice sector reforms in Lagos State.
Dr. Martins noted that the training comes at a critical time when the State is intensifying efforts to promote alternative sentencing frameworks as a means of decongesting correctional facilities and ensuring a more rehabilitative approach to justice delivery.
“This collaboration is both timely and impactful, as it provides practical insights into probation systems, offender management, and non-custodial sentencing options that can be effectively adapted to our local context”.
He further commended the facilitators for delivering a comprehensive and insightful training, highlighting the importance of continued engagement and institutional partnerships in achieving sustainable justice sector reforms.
In his remarks, he stated that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice remains committed to adopting progressive and internationally recognised best practices in the administration of justice.
The training, facilitated by senior UK probation practitioners including; Head of Essex North Probation Service,
Mr. David Messam; and Head of Liverpool South Probation Service, Ms. Emma Davies; covered key areas such as probation structure and governance, offender management in the community, non-custodial sentencing options, and support systems within the probation framework in England and Wales.
Participants at the training included State Counsel, Magistrates, and Directors in the Ministry, all of whom actively engaged in discussions aimed at strengthening the implementation of non-custodial sentencing in Lagos State.
