Two bakery workers in Lagos have been ordered to perform two weeks of community service after confessing to stealing five loaves of bread from their employer.
The sentence, handed down on Monday, September 8, 2025, was issued under the Lagos State Government’s restorative justice programme.
Instead of facing trial, the case was redirected by a District Prosecutor to the Restorative Justice Centre, a unit of the Ministry of Justice that mediates minor offences.
Officials said the matter qualified for diversion under the state’s “sifting process,” which is designed to ease congestion in courts and correctional facilities.
Following mediation between the bakery owner and the employees, both parties agreed to a non-custodial penalty.
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The workers began serving their community service the same day, undertaking supervised tasks at the Lagos State Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja.
The Ministry of Justice described the outcome as an example of dialogue and accountability in practice.
“This resolution demonstrates the effectiveness of restorative justice in addressing minor offences while promoting responsibility and reconciliation,” the ministry noted in a statement.
Authorities said the case underscores Lagos’ commitment to expanding non-custodial sentencing for petty crimes, reducing the strain on prisons, and promoting more constructive correctional measures.