The Lagos State Government has revealed that over 81,000 suspects were arrested, arraigned, and convicted for various minor and major offences between January 2024 and May 2025.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro SAN, revealed this on Wednesday at the ongoing ministerial press briefing to mark the second year of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

“Under the period under review, a total number of 71,023 offenders were arrested, arraigned, and convicted for various minor offences,” Pedro stated.

The commissioner added that from the “Lagos Criminal Information System (LCIS) the combined population in the custodial facilities was 9096 as at May 2025, which is 106 per cent above the built capacity.

He added that the system recorded a total of 73962 cases/inmates between 2018 and May 2025, just as over 10,000 suspects/cases processed between January 2024 and May 2025.

According to the commissioner, 64 per cent of convictions reported between January 2024 and May 2025 were plea bargain convictions

Pedro said that to increase efficiency in the criminal justice system, the government has leveraged technology and new initiatives in the Ministry of Justice, notwithstanding the challenges presented by other agencies involved in the criminal justice system.

“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.

“Lagos Criminal Information System (LCIS) is a major initiative and achievement of the Ministry of Justice. The LCIS was created and has been perfected as a platform to automate the processes and procedures within the Criminal Justice System in Lagos State.

“The system is a databank of all criminal cases pending in Magistrates and High courts in Lagos State, where the defendant is in custody in any of the correctional centres in Lagos State or granted bail by the court.

“In other words, we detail records of all Defendants in custody awaiting trial and those already convicted, including their biometric, physical, personal picture, and offence charged with.

“It 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, excluding police stations.”