Restorative Justice Center – Lagos State Ministry of Justice

LAGOS COMMEMORATES INTERNATIONAL RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WEEK

Posted on November 29, 2025

…Reaffirms Commitment to Humane and Community-Centred Justice The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has joined the global community to commemorate the 2025 International Restorative Justice Week, which commenced on Monday, 24th November 2025. The Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, reaffirmed the State Government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening restorative justice as a core pillar of the State’s criminal justice architecture. Speaking at a press briefing held on Thursday,, the Attorney-General noted that this year’s international theme, “Restorative Justice as Human Rights,” aligns strongly with the THEMES+ agenda of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, particularly under Security and Governance. He stated that Lagos State continues to champion people-centred justice and community-based peacebuilding—positioning restorative justice not merely as an alternative, but as an essential tool for promoting access to justice, healing, accountability, and human dignity. Pedro highlighted the progress of the Lagos State Restorative Justice Centre, established in 2022 as the first structured restorative justice framework in Nigeria. He reported that the Centre has received 360 referrals to date, with over 80 percent successfully resolved, resulting in fewer custodial remands, reduced court pressure, quicker justice delivery, and improved community harmony. According to him, the Centre’s interventions include victim–offender mediations, restitution agreements, community service sentencing as a non-custodial measure, and its first multi-party conferencing involving government agencies and a private business entity. The Attorney-General added that most referrals were received from the Magistrate Courts, Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Bureau of Public Defender, and private legal practitioners. However, he noted the relatively low referral rate from the Police, stressing the need for deeper engagement. He assured that the Ministry will strengthen collaboration with law enforcement to enhance the programme’s reach and impact. Pedro further stated that Lagos State’s achievements have positioned it as a national leader in criminal justice reform, with the Lagos model being adopted across states including Adamawa, Anambra, Edo, Kano, Abia, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory. He expressed appreciation to Governor Sanwo-Olu for his continuous support, and to the Honourable Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba, for institutional backing. He also commended the EU-funded RoLAC Programme, International IDEA, the Prison Fellowship of Nigeria, the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse, justice sector stakeholders, and community partners for sustaining the initiative. “As we commemorate International Restorative Justice Week 2025, we make it clear that restorative justice is no longer an experiment in Lagos State. It is now a permanent and indispensable feature of our criminal justice system,” he said. He further called on the Police, justice institutions, community leaders, and the public to continue partnering with the Ministry to strengthen restorative justice and promote peaceful, community-driven resolutions across the State. In her remarks, the RoLAC Coordinator, Mrs. Ajibola Ijimakinwa, emphasised the need to expand public awareness and deepen institutional adoption of restorative justice across Lagos State. She noted that referral numbers remain low compared to the volume of minor offences entering the system, describing this as an area requiring urgent collaboration. “We look forward to increased referrals from Magistrate Courts and even the Police,” she said. “Before now, justice was all about punishment and incarceration. Now we are saying the victim and the offender can come together, discuss what happened and its impact, and reach an agreement that ensures accountability while addressing the victim’s needs.” Speaking earlier, the Solicitor-General, Mr. Hameed Oyenuga—represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins noted that the annual observance provides an important platform for Lagos State to reaffirm its leadership in justice sector reform, strengthen public awareness, and highlight progress since the establishment of the Restorative Justice Centre in 2022. Oyenuga reiterated that restorative justice remains central to the Ministry of Justice’s commitments under the THEMES+ Agenda, particularly in advancing people-centred justice, reducing court burdens, supporting victims, and promoting peaceful conflict resolution across communities. He expressed appreciation to the Attorney-General for his strategic leadership and commended justice sector stakeholders, international partners, and community organisations for their collaboration in promoting humane and effective justice solutions. The Director of the Restorative Justice Centre, Ms. Adeshola Adekunle-Bello, also expressed gratitude to the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General for their sustained leadership in advancing restorative justice in Lagos State. She noted that their support has enabled the Centre to evolve into a functional, impactful, and nationally recognised model for community-centred justice. She acknowledged the invaluable collaboration of key justice sector institutions—including the Judiciary, Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Bureau of Public Defender, Community Service Unit, District Prosecutors and the Police—as well as partners such as the EU-funded RoLAC Programme, International IDEA, the Prison Fellowship of Nigeria, and the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse. She added that these partnerships have been crucial in strengthening restorative interventions and expanding access across the State. Adekunle-Bello extended appreciation to community leaders, civil society organisations, and the press for their continued support, and reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to deepening restorative practices, promoting peaceful conflict resolution, and sustaining Lagos State’s leadership in criminal justice reform.

PRESS RELEASE: LAGOS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CENTRE ORGANIZES SENSITIZATION PROGRAM ON VICTIM/OFFENDER MEDIATION

Posted on June 16, 2023

The Lagos Restorative Justice Centre domiciled in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, on Wednesday, at the Magistrate Court, Samuel Ilori Court House, Ogba, Lagos, organized a sensitization program on victim/offender Mediation (VOM). The VOM provides interested victims an opportunity to meet their offender, in a safe and structured setting. Delivering the keynote address,the Chief Judge of Lagos State who also serves as the Chairman of Criminal Justice Sector Reform Committee (CJSRC), Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba noted that the restorative system of justice is not alien but has been in existence for over three decades and in practice in other countries, hence the adoption by the State Justice System to ensure peaceful resolution of disputes. Justice Alogba ably represented by Hon. Justice Nicole Clay stated that the traditional justice system has suffered a great deal of setbacks with evident increase in the rate of crime, long prosecution process and overcrowding of correctional facilities amongst others. Whilst commending the RJ Team on a job well done, the Chief Judge also expressed his gratitude towards participants and wished everyone a fruitful deliberation. The Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-bey in her address stated that Restorative Justice is a form of alternative dispute resolution, deployed as a tool for decongesting less serious cases in the dockets of the court system and invariably the overcrowded correctional centres”. “In restorative justice, its processes are mindful with just one goal which is Justice and Healing for offender, victim and society”. Ms. Titilayo Shitta-bey further stated that the establishment of the Lagos State Restorative Justice Centre is simply to raise awareness and build support for the restorative justice program as well as collaborating with relevant stakeholders in implementing this model of Justice. The Director, Community Service, Lagos Ministry of Justice,Mrs. Tomi Bodude stressed that community service is another important component of restorative justice used as a means of repairing damage to the community. “Court-ordered community service requires an offender to perform a specific number of hours of free work for a charitable agency, nonprofit organization, or governmental agency, and it can be ordered as a condition of probation or as an alternative to incarceration. Generally, a nonviolent offender is assigned to community service, and careful screening must occur to ensure that the offender is appropriate for the site and vice versa while ensuring public safety”. Mrs. Tomi Bolude further noted that the benefits of community service are very similar to those of restitution which can help to change an offenders’ values. Speaking during the sensitization campaign, the Coordinator,Restorative Justice Centre,Mrs. Adenike Oluwafemi, stated that the concept of RJ is the practical application of some of the components of ADR to criminal matters and causes. The Coordinator further explained that during the Victim Offender Mediation(VOM), the victim and offender are brought together to repair the harm while the offender is reintegrated back to the society to achieve a sense of healing for both parties. Mrs. Adenike Oluwafemi however reiterated the State Government’s resolve to ensure an effective dispensation of justice whereby people can walk into the centre to make enquiries as well as file complaints. It should be recalled that the Lagos State Restorative Justice Centre began a 3day sensitization campaign on Tuesday, 13th of June at the Girls Correctional Home, Idi-araba and a Walk for Restorative Justice from Akilo Street, Ogba, to Samuel Ilori Court House where the legal clinic was organized. The sensitization program was finalized on Thursday, 15th of June with a visit to the Maximum, Medium and Female Correctional Centres, Kirikiri, Lagos.

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WEEK 2022.LAGOS SENSITIZES CORRECTIONAL CENTRE FOR BOYS ON VICTIM OFFENDER MEDIATION

Posted on November 25, 2022

As part of efforts to promote peaceful communities ,transforming the Criminal justice system and prevent re-offending,the Lagos State Restorative Justice Center on Thursday expanded its sensitization campaign to the Lagos Correctional Centre for Boys ,Oregun,Lagos in Commemoration of the Lagos Restorative Justice week 2022. Speaking during visit,the Coordinator, RJC, Mrs. Adenike Oluwafemi, stated that the establishment of the restorative justice centre is to serve as an alternative dispute resolution and as a tool for decongesting the less serious case in the court system. “Restorative justice is a form of alternative dispute resolution and we are determined to deploy it as a tool for decongesting as many of the less serious cases in the dockets of the court system and invariably the overcrowded correctional centres”. The Coordinator further stated that during the Victim Offender mediation(VOM),the victim and offender are brought together to repair the harm while the offender is reintegrated back to the society to achieve a sense of healing for both parties . “Restorative Justice seeks to provide opportunities for victims, offenders, and communities affected by a crime to communicate (directly or indirectly) about the causes, circumstances, and impact of that crime, and to address their related needs.” Mrs. Adenike Oluwafemi hereby reiterated the State Government’s resolve to ensure an effective dispensation of justice whereby people can walk into the centre to make enquiries as well as file complaints She added that the Centre is equipped with excellent and exceptional facilitators to ensure transparency and due process in accordance with the Criminal Justice system of the State The Coordinator and Principal of the Special Correctional Home for Boys, Mr. Iyapo, expressed his profound and heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the correctional facility to the State Government, Ministry of Justice and the RJ Steering Committee who have spared time out of their busy schedule to enlighten the boys on the benefits of restorative justice, its importance and workability.He however assured the committee members of the commitment of the school in further educating the boys and parents alike. Other Attendees includes members of the Restorative Justice Steering Committee- Director CMC, Mrs. Abiola Oseni, State Counsel, Mrs.Soewu and lawyers. The Year 2022 Rjc week is themed “Self Accountability:Aligning your actions with your values. It should be recalled that the Restorative justice week is held every November to create awareness about the benefits of RJ for the victim,offender,communities and stakeholders.