AGF Fagbemi Launches Initiative To Overhaul Nigeria’s Outdated Laws
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has launched a committee of legal experts tasked with reviewing and updating Nigeria’s outdated laws. Speaking at the committee’s inauguration in Abuja, Fagbemi highlighted that Nigeria’s legal framework has not been updated since 2004, raising concerns over its relevance to current socio-economic needs.
Led by Mr. Olawale Fapohunda (SAN), with Prof. Jummai Audi, Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, as co-chair, the committee has four months to compile and harmonize the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) through 2024. This will include collecting, editing, and consolidating legislation, identifying outdated laws, and merging related statutes to reduce redundancies.
Emphasizing the need for reform, Fagbemi noted that modernizing the law aligns with the administration’s goals of promoting the rule of law and justice access to support economic growth and legal reform. He urged the committee to focus on harmonizing conflicting laws and discarding obsolete provisions to create a more efficient legal system, stressing that these efforts are crucial for clarity, predictability, and consistency.
“This project is dear to my heart,” Fagbemi said. “Our body of laws must reflect contemporary developments and meet our national socio-economic needs.” He also acknowledged the support of the National Assembly, the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, and the Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies in this initiative.
Fagbemi assured the committee of full institutional support, adding, “This team is composed of professionals with vast expertise. I am grateful for your commitment to serving our nation.” The Attorney General concluded by charging the committee to work with patriotism and unity in fulfilling their mandate.
