The Lagos State Government has announced that the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), now upgraded to the Bureau of Public Defender (BPD), has recovered over N815 million and $52,000 in compensation for indigent residents since its establishment 25 years ago.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Bolaji Dada, disclosed this on Sunday during the silver jubilee celebration of the agency held in Victoria Island.
Sanwo-Olu described the agency as a cornerstone of Lagos’ justice system, recalling its creation in 2000 under then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu with Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, as Attorney-General.
“The OPD was born of a vision to make justice available to every Lagosian, not just the privileged. Today, that vision has become a reality,” the governor said.
According to him, the bureau has handled nearly 50,000 court cases, resolved over 14,000 petitions through mediation, and recorded an 86 per cent success rate in litigation.
He noted that beyond the figures, the agency’s impact is best measured in “human stories—families reunited, dignity restored, victims of abuse protected, and voices once silenced now heard.”
Sanwo-Olu explained that the upgrade to a Bureau of Public Defender, which took effect on March 20, 2025, was aimed at boosting efficiency and broadening its reach. He urged the bureau to embrace digital innovation, forge stronger partnerships, and deepen its commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in society.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, also highlighted the bureau’s achievements, describing it as “a legacy of bold vision.” He revealed that the OPD has managed more than 200,000 petitions since inception.
Tracing its origins, Pedro said the OPD began as a modest unit under the Directorate for Citizens’ Rights before evolving into a full-fledged agency with headquarters in Surulere and nine offices spread across the state, including Ajegunle, Ajah, Ikorodu, Epe, Badagry, Agege, Ogba, and Alimosho.
“The journey of the OPD proves that when the government, the Bar, the Bench, and civil society work together, the rule of law is strengthened and the vulnerable are protected,” Pedro said.
Reflecting on his own role, Pedro, who joined the Ministry of Justice in 1987 and later rose to Solicitor-General before retiring in 2015, described the bureau’s transformation as deeply rewarding.
“I was there at the beginning, when the OPD was conceived as a bold response to the urgent need to make justice accessible to every indigent Lagosian. To stand here 25 years later and see how far it has come is both humbling and inspiring,” he added.
