IKEJA -The Lagos State Government  said that 140 convicted sex offenders had been recorded in a Sex Offenders’ Register created by the state government to shame offenders and serve as deterrent.
Mr. Ade Ipaye, Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice made the disclosure at the 2015 Ministerial Press Briefing in Ikeja.
He said that the state had recorded no fewer than 12, 120 rape cases and other sexual violence matters in the last four years, describing such acts as threats to dignity and humanity.
According to him, the government is doing its best to address the problem through the law and other means.
Giving other statistics, Ipaye said that it had sentenced 5,834 offenders to community service for various offences in the last four years.
He said the figure included the 3,083 that got non-custodial punishments such as cleaning public buildings and sweeping, among others in the last one year.
Ipaye explained that this was part of the strategies to decongest the prisons.
“I am pleased to inform you that the programme has continued to wax stronger in demonstration of the fact that criminal justice system does not need to incarcerate offenders in order to be effective.
“ With the community service option available to judges and magistrates, convicted offenders do not need to be sent to prison for every minor infraction of the law.”
In the area of public prosecution, the commissioner said that in the last one year , out of the 795 police investigation files sent to the Director of Public Prosecution’s office for legal advice, the unit completed work on 716 (90.1%).
He said the rest were still being processed, as many required additional information or further investigation by the Police or other relevant agencies.
“During the same period, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions is engaged in the prosecution of 1,069 criminal cases in all courts.
“This figure includes the 786 cases which are currently being prosecuted at the Federal and the State High Courts as well as 54 and 11 respectively at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
“The number is also inclusive of the 218 cases at the Magistrate Courts.