The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, on Tuesday received the Chairman and members of the newly inaugurated Lagos State Parole Board on a courtesy visit at the Ministry of Justice, Alausa, Ikeja, reaffirming the state’s commitment to promoting non-custodial measures in the administration of justice.
Led by Hon. Justice Candide Johnson (Rtd.), the visit was aimed at officially introducing the Parole Board to the Attorney General and seeking his guidance on the effective implementation of parole administration in Lagos State, in line with the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019.
In his remarks, Mr. Pedro described the establishment of the Lagos State Parole Board as a “significant milestone” in advancing restorative justice, decongesting correctional facilities, and facilitating the reformation and reintegration of offenders into society.
“The Ministry of Justice will give full cooperation and legal support to ensure the successful operationalization of parole administration in Lagos,” the Attorney General assured, adding that the state remains committed to deepening justice sector reforms that promote fairness, efficiency, and access to justice for all.
Earlier, Justice Johnson expressed appreciation to the Attorney General for the audience granted the delegation and briefed him on the objectives and operational framework of the Board. He noted that although the Board had received its Operational Guidelines and Protocols for Parole Administration, released in April 2025, there remained a pressing need for office space, logistics, and administrative support to enable effective discharge of its duties.
He appealed for the Ministry’s assistance in facilitating the institutional and inter-agency support necessary for the full commencement of parole operations in the state.
The meeting, which underscored ongoing collaboration between the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and the Nigerian Correctional Service, also had in attendance the Controller of Corrections, Controller George Daramola; Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Olusegun Peter Ogunnusi; Directors from the Ministry; and other members of the Parole Board.
The Lagos State Parole Board, established in line with national correctional reforms, is expected to play a key role in promoting humane and reformative justice by providing supervised reintegration opportunities for deserving inmates.
Reporting By Wahab Akinlade