BY EDITOR
Over 750 Acts are under review as Governor Francis Nwifuru, Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and other top legal minds renewed the call for urgent reforms to Nigeria’s outdated legal framework during the third retreat of the Committee for the Review of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria held Wednesday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
Declaring the retreat open, Governor Nwifuru warned that the nation risks stagnation if it continues to rely on laws last consolidated in 2004, despite sweeping political, economic, and technological changes.
“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,” the governor said.
Governor Nwifuru, in a closing charge to the committee, reminded participants of the weight of their assignment.
“History will judge this committee not only by the pages of the revised laws but by the impact those laws will have on justice, democracy, and development,” he declared.
The review committee, inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in October 2024, is mandated to examine 757 Acts and 753 subsidiary legislations with the aim of eliminating redundancies, consolidating statutes, and modernizing the legal system to meet democratic and economic demands.
Attorney General Fagbemi described the review as a decisive step for good governance and the survival of democracy. He stressed that obsolete laws obstruct justice, discourage investment, and erode public trust.
“Modernizing our legal framework, eliminating outdated statutes, and ensuring accessibility of the law will not only strengthen democracy but also enhance the ease of doing business and align Nigeria with its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,” he said.
Fagbemi commended Ebonyi State for pioneering reforms such as its Charter of Justice and digitization of court processes, noting that the state has become a model in justice sector transformation.
Ebonyi State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ben Odoh, pledged the support of state counterparts, disclosing that over 30 Attorneys-General attended the retreat in solidarity.
“As we return to our states, we will replicate this reform process at the sub-national level. Be rest assured that every support needed to make this work succeed will be provided,” Odoh affirmed.
Committee Chairman, Olawale Fapohunda (SAN), revealed that 641 Acts had already undergone review, with redundant provisions identified for deletion. He explained that the retreat would finalize modalities for producing the revised 2025 edition of the Laws of the Federation.
Speakers including the co-chairman of the committee, SAN Dakas C.J Dakas at the event repeatedly emphasized that the survival of Nigeria’s democracy depends on the relevance, clarity, and accessibility of its laws. They argued that a legal system riddled with outdated and incoherent statutes cannot deliver justice, drive economic stability, or sustain public confidence.
The retreat continues in Abakaliki, with deliberations expected to harmonize draft revisions and lay the groundwork for a consolidated legal framework that, according to stakeholders, could redefine Nigeria’s justice system for decades to come.
