In its push to decongest correctional facilities and embrace non-custodial measures, the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has secured a community service sentence for two bakery workers accused of stealing five loaves of bread from their employer.
The case, which initially faced prosecution in court, was redirected under the Ministry’s sifting process at the Magistrate Courts. A District Prosecutor reviewed the matter and referred it to the Restorative Justice Centre (RJC) instead of filing charges.
At the centre, both parties underwent mediation, which ended in an agreement that the offenders would serve two weeks of community service. The sentence took immediate effect.
According to the Ministry, the resolution underscores its commitment to promoting dialogue, reconciliation, and accountability while advancing restorative justice as a more effective way of handling minor offences.