A Lagos court has sentenced two bakery workers to two weeks of community service after they were caught stealing five loaves of bread from their employer.

The Lagos State Ministry of Justice disclosed the development in a statement on Monday, September 8, 2025.

According to the statement, instead of prosecuting the workers, the case was referred to the Restorative Justice Centre (RJC) in collaboration with the Non-Custodial/Community Service Centre as part of efforts to decongest prisons and promote alternative justice.

The bakery owner had insisted that the workers be taken to court, but after review, a district prosecutor referred the matter for mediation.

At the centre, both parties reached an agreement that the offenders would serve 14 days of community service, which began immediately.

The Ministry noted that the decision demonstrates its commitment to restorative justice, focusing on dialogue, reconciliation, and accountability rather than imprisonment for minor offences.

This approach, it said, highlights a shift in Lagos State’s justice system towards giving offenders a chance at correction without burdening correctional facilities.