The Lagos State Judiciary has launched a new Practice Direction on Non-Custodial Sentencing. Lainchet, in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation, the Development and Advocacy Centre, and Law Hub, the programme will help standardize the application of non-custodial sentencing across the country.
Speaking at the launch, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba, reiterated the need for uniformity in sentencing, describing non-custodial measures as a key societal shift.
“Non-custodial sentencing has come to stay. It is not just an alternative; it is a permanent change in the administration of justice. We must now ensure that judges, agencies, and all stakeholders understand their roles and responsibilities in enforcing it,” he said.
According to him, the new practice direction will help to eradicate inconsistencies, offer judges more clarity when it comes to direction, and reduce disputes among institutions supervising offenders.
He stated that quick enforcement of judgments is needed to sustain the confidence of Nigerians in the country’s justice system.
Representing the MacArthur Foundation, Senior Programme Officer Yvonne Darkwa-Poku reaffirmed the foundation’s dedication to criminal justice reform in Nigeria.
Hailing Lagos State for its leadership, Yvonne described the launch as one step closer to guaranteeing fairness, decreasing prison congestion, and ensuring justice is served for all societal issues.
“MacArthur began supporting work on criminal justice reform long before the ACJA was passed in 2015. To see our grantees pushing for nationwide adoption and implementation of reforms such as this gives us great hope,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Yemisi Akile of the Human Rights Commission commended the reform, stressing that the commission has conducted prison audits highlighting persistent congestion for over 20 years.
“This reform provides a realistic solution, and we welcome it wholeheartedly,” Yemisi said.
Representing Mr. Osita Okoro, Executive Director of Law Hub, Mrs. Adenike Oluwafemi disclosed that the practice direction was long overdue.
She further praised Justice Alogba’s leadership, referring to him as “a dependable partner in our shared goal of criminal justice reform.”
“Nigeria faces the persistent challenge of custodial overcrowding, with our correctional centres holding far more individuals than they were built for. This document provides judges with a clear framework for implementing non-custodial sentences effectively. Since reforms in Lagos often set the pace for other states, creating this framework here is essential for driving national adoption,” Adenike added.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimon Olohundare, represented by Charles Akinrosoye, Head of the Command’s Legal Department, concluded by saying that non-custodial sentencing would simplify congestion in correctional centres, while enhancing how Nigerians perceive the judiciary.
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