— Aimed at reducing prison congestion, promoting rehabilitation, and strengthening justice delivery
The Lagos State Judiciary on Tuesday unveiled the Non-Custodial Sentencing Practice Direction 2025, a landmark reform aimed at reducing reliance on custodial sentences while promoting rehabilitation, crime prevention, and reintegration of offenders into society.
The initiative was developed in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation and the Law Hub Development and Advocacy Centre, with contributions from civil society and key justice sector institutions.
Speaking at the launch, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, described the reform as a necessary societal shift and a permanent feature of Nigeria’s justice system.
“Non-custodial sentencing has come to stay. It is not just an alternative; it is a permanent change in the administration of justice. What we must now ensure is that judges, agencies, and all stakeholders understand their roles and responsibilities in enforcing it,” Justice Alogba said.
He noted that the guidelines would eliminate inconsistencies in sentencing, provide judges with clearer direction, and strengthen collaboration among agencies supervising offenders. According to him, timely enforcement of judgments is key to sustaining public trust in the justice system.
MacArthur Foundation Senior Programme Officer, Yvonne Darkwa-Poku, reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to criminal justice reforms, praising Lagos State for its leadership role.
“This launch marks a significant step toward fairness, reducing prison congestion, and ensuring a justice system that is more responsive to societal needs,” she said, adding that MacArthur and its grantees have been deeply involved in advancing reforms since the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
From the civil society perspective, Mrs. Adenike Oluwafemi, who represented the Executive Director of Law Hub, Mr. Osita Okoro, described the practice direction as “long overdue.”
“Nigeria’s correctional centres remain overstretched, holding far more individuals than they were built for. This framework provides judges with a practical tool to implement non-custodial sentences effectively. Since Lagos often sets the pace for other states, this reform is critical to driving national adoption,” she said.
Other speakers, including Mrs. Yemisi Akile of the Human Rights Commission, who has been engaged in prison audits for over two decades, welcomed the reform as “a realistic solution” to persistent congestion challenges.
The event also featured remarks from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimon Olohundare (represented by Charles Akinrosoye, Head of the Command’s Legal Department), alongside representatives from the Attorney General’s office, the Nigerian Correctional Service, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and civil society organisations.
They collectively emphasised that the success of the reform will depend on inter-agency cooperation, punctual implementation of sentencing decisions, and strict adherence to the new guidelines.
The Non-Custodial Sentencing Practice Direction 2025 is expected to serve as a model for other states across Nigeria, reinforcing Lagos State’s reputation as a frontrunner in criminal justice reform.
