Fagbemi, Nwifuru lead call for urgent review of Nigeria’s laws

Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has warned that Nigeria’s democracy and economic growth risk being undermined if the country continues to operate on outdated laws last consolidated in 2004.

Fagbemi, who spoke on Wednesday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, during the third retreat of the Committee for the Review of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, said obsolete laws frustrate justice delivery, discourage investment, and erode citizens’ confidence in governance.

“Modernising our legal framework, eliminating outdated statutes, and ensuring accessibility of the law will not only strengthen democracy but also enhance the ease of doing business and align Nigeria with its international obligations,” the minister stated.

The retreat, inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in October 2024, is mandated to review more than 757 Acts and 753 subsidiary legislations to consolidate, modernise, and eliminate redundancies in the nation’s statutes.

Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, while declaring the session open, cautioned that Nigeria risks stagnation if it continues to rely on laws that no longer reflect present political, economic, and technological realities.

“Every society is measured by the strength of its law. We cannot carry yesterday’s law into tomorrow’s challenges. To govern effectively, our legal framework must speak to today’s realities and anticipate the needs of the future,” Nwifuru charged.

The governor further reminded the review committee, chaired by Olawale Fapohunda (SAN), that its work would directly impact the survival of democracy and the delivery of justice.

Ben Odoh, Ebonyi State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, in his remark, pledged the support of state counterparts, noting that at least 30 Attorneys-General were present at the retreat in solidarity.

Committee Chairman Fapohunda revealed that 641 Acts had already been reviewed, with redundant provisions identified for deletion. He said the retreat would finalise modalities for producing the revised 2025 edition of the Laws of the Federation.

SAN Dakas C.J. Dakas, the co-chairman of the committee, stressed that the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy depends on the relevance and clarity of its laws.

Meanwhile, Ebonyi’s justice sector reforms, such as the Charter of Justice initiative and the digitisation of court processes, drew commendation from Fagbemi, who described the state as a model for others.

The retreat, which lasts from August 26th through August 30th in Abakaliki, is expected to harmonise draft revisions and prepare a consolidated legal framework that stakeholders believe could redefine Nigeria’s justice system for decades.