Two bakery workers in Lagos have been sentenced to two weeks of community service after stealing bread, as the state embraces restorative justice reforms.
Two bakery workers in Lagos State have been handed a non-custodial sentence of two weeks of community service after they were found guilty of stealing bread from their employer.
The case, which initially appeared to be headed for a criminal prosecution, was instead resolved through an alternative dispute mechanism facilitated by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry explained that the move was part of its broader justice sector reform aimed at promoting restorative justice, reducing the pressure on courts, and decongesting correctional centres across the state.
According to details released by the Ministry on Monday, September 8, 2025, the two workers were accused of unlawfully taking five loaves of bread from their bakery.
Their employer, angered by the act, demanded that the matter be prosecuted in court, insisting that justice could only be served through formal criminal charges.
Ordinarily, such a case would have proceeded to trial. However, under Lagos State’s innovative “sifting process” introduced at Magistrate Courts, minor offences are first reviewed by a District Prosecutor before charges are filed.
In this instance, the prosecutor assessed the matter and determined that it was suitable for restorative intervention rather than criminal prosecution.
Consequently, the case was referred to the Restorative Justice Centre (RJC), a unit of the Ministry that works in partnership with the Non-Custodial/Community Service Centre.
The RJC specialises in resolving disputes through dialogue, mediation, and reconciliation while still holding offenders accountable.
At the centre, both the bakery owner and the accused workers participated in a structured mediation process.
The dialogue gave the employer an opportunity to express the impact of the theft and allowed the offenders to acknowledge their wrongdoing.
Following the mediation, an agreement was reached: the two bakery staff members would serve a punishment of two weeks of community service. The sentence was implemented immediately after the resolution, sparing both the state and the offenders the burden of lengthy court proceedings.
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice described the outcome as a clear demonstration of its commitment to promoting alternatives to imprisonment in cases involving minor offences.
It stressed that the restorative approach ensures that offenders are rehabilitated while victims also get a sense of justice and closure.
“This resolution highlights the Ministry’s proactive efforts in fostering dialogue, reconciliation, and accountability,” the statement read.
“By choosing mediation over prosecution in this case, the Restorative Justice Centre has shown that community service and reconciliation can be more impactful than punitive jail terms for petty offences.”
The Lagos State Government has been at the forefront of introducing innovative justice reforms in Nigeria.
Through initiatives like the Restorative Justice Centre and Non-Custodial/Community Service Centre, the state aims to promote fairness, reduce recidivism, and ensure that correctional facilities are reserved for serious criminal cases.
Officials noted that this bakery case is only one among several minor disputes that have been successfully resolved through restorative justice.
They added that the state remains committed to expanding the programme, especially in areas involving petty theft, minor disputes, and offences where reconciliation is possible.
By adopting this approach, the Ministry of Justice hopes to strike a balance between accountability and rehabilitation, ensuring that offenders take responsibility for their actions while being reintegrated positively into society.