The Lagos State Government has identified Lekki and Lagos Island as the leading crime hotspots in the state, with these areas accounting for a significant portion of the 35,461 criminal cases filed in courts over the past three years.
The data was revealed by Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, during a ministerial press briefing on Thursday. The briefing, which marked the seventh year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, highlighted the impact of the Lagos Criminal Information System (LCIS), a digital platform designed to enhance the administration of criminal justice.
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Pedro explained that the LCIS serves as a comprehensive database for all criminal cases in the state’s Magistrate and High Courts. It tracks defendants in custody, those on bail, and convicted individuals, containing their biometric details, photographs, and case histories.
“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,” Pedro stated.
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According to the commissioner, the Lekki-Ajah corridor alone contributed over 16% of the criminal cases filed in the last three years, while the combined Lagos Island and Lekki-Ajah axis accounted for more than 27% of all cases. Other areas with high crime rates include Ikorodu, Alimosho, Lagos Mainland/Yaba, and Mushin.
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Stealing-related offences were the most common crimes, making up 44.7% of all cases recorded on the LCIS during the period. As of May 15, 2025, the system had logged a total of 84,297 criminal cases since its inception.
Pedro also addressed public perception regarding the prison population, clarifying that data from the LCIS shows that only 11.2% of inmates are awaiting trial. In contrast, over 53% are involved in ongoing trials, and the state has secured convictions in more than 24% of its cases.
State Frees 397 Inmates Through Prerogative of Mercy
In a related development, the Lagos State Government has approved the release of 397 inmates from correctional facilities between 2023 and 2025. The releases were granted through the Governor’s Prerogative of Mercy, an initiative aimed at decongesting prisons and promoting rehabilitation.
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The Attorney-General described the Prerogative of Mercy as a constitutional power allowing the governor to grant pardons, release inmates, or commute sentences based on recommendations from the state’s Advisory Council.
“It is an act of grace or clemency exercised in appropriate circumstances to mitigate the rigours of the law,” Pedro explained.
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Over the three-year period, the council reviewed 963 applications. This resulted in the recommendation for the release of 397 inmates, the commutation of nine death sentences to life imprisonment, and one full pardon.
Pedro noted that this exercise is a key component of the state’s broader criminal justice reforms, which focus on fairness, rehabilitation, and reducing overcrowding in custodial centres.
