95 years after the introduction of the Criminal Code into Nigeria by the colonial government in June 1916, Lagos State became the first territory in post-colonial Nigeria to successfully undertake and, in 2011, complete a review of its substantive laws on crime, resulting in the enactment of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011. Despite ample opportunities provided to reverse this and a demonstrably desperate need to do so, substantive criminal law in Nigeria had, until then, existed in a Victorian time warp. Against this background, the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, was both overdue and a welcome effort to reform somewhat out-dated criminal law in the territory of Nigeria. Using a public law and public policy framework, this article examines the extent to which the Lagos State law succeeded in this goal. It finds that, while far from perfect, the law contains forward looking provisions. It considerable reforms concerning crimes against women, including protection of women against domestic violence and harmful cultural practices and enacts clear offences on harmful cultural practices. It also decriminalises the Victorian crimes of bigamy and homosexuality and enacts sexual violence and sexual harassment as crimes. However, it also contains some worrying features and missed opportunities, including contradictions between some crimes and the declared objectives of the law as well as between some provisions of the law and the constitution. This article addresses these with suggestions for pathways to reform.