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In commemoration of the 2025 United Nations Human Rights Day, the Lagos State government has approved the release and sentence computation of 91 convicts under its constitutional powers of clemency.
Eighty of the beneficiaries are set for immediate release, having served more than 70% of their jail terms in correctional facilities across the state.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), announced this on Wednesday at a press briefing jointly organised by the Ministry of Justice and the Directorate of Citizens’ Rights.
Pedro said the gesture aligns with the state’s commitment to justice reform and human rights protection.
Reflecting on the state’s human rights achievements, the AG revealed that the Directorate of Citizens’ Rights resolved 1,200 cases within the past year out of approximately 1,950 petitions received.
The remaining petitions, he said, are at various stages of investigation or active litigation.
Pedro traced the creation of the Directorate back to 1999, noting that Lagos established the body at the onset of Nigeria’s return to democracy to rebuild public trust and protect citizens’ rights.
“It was a deliberate democratic intervention by then-Governor Bola Tinubu, now President of Nigeria, aimed at empowering citizens with knowledge of their rights and ensuring abuses associated with military rule never return,” he said.
He added that the directorate—initially launched with five units, including the Citizens Mediation Unit, Public Defender Unit, and Human Rights Unit—has since grown into a major pillar of the Lagos justice system, with many units evolving into full-fledged agencies.
Ongoing Human Rights Work
Pedro disclosed that the directorate is currently handling about 50 fundamental rights suits before both the Federal High Court and the Lagos State High Court. These cases cover issues such as alleged police misconduct, unlawful detention, property rights disputes, and denial of parental access
He said the Bureau of Public Defenders continues to offer free legal representation to indigent residents, including survivors of domestic violence, victims of rape and sexual offences, minors in conflict with the law, and individuals detained unlawfully.
The Attorney General urged Lagos residents to respect the rights of others and remain law-abiding while assuring that the justice sector would continue to uphold fairness, accountability, and accessible justice for all.
