Abuja: The Committee for the Review, Update and Consolidation of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria has made significant progress by reviewing 737 laws. Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, who chairs the committee, disclosed this development during the committee’s second retreat in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the committee is actively working on 697 additional laws, with 40 others still pending. Fapohunda, previously the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti, explained that the retreat was organized to allow the 46-member committee to review, update, and consolidate outdated laws across the country. The committee has 14 working groups designed to address various challenges and propose solutions, aiming to submit their draft to the Attorney General by September 2025.
The approach taken by the committee is inclusive and consultative, engaging with the Nigeria Bar Association and other stakeholders to ensure they meet the expectations of Nigerians. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, expressed gratitude to the committee for their dedication, emphasizing the strategic importance of the retreat in consolidating national law reform efforts.
Mr. Toyin Badejogbon, representing the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), called for support in the legislative development process, highlighting the importance of enhancing access to law. RoLAC aims to strengthen the application of law and reduce corruption, working at both federal and state levels to reform the criminal justice system and improve anti-corruption agency performance.
NAN reports that the committee was inaugurated in October 2024 with a mandate to review, update, and consolidate outdated laws. Their tasks include coordinating the collection, collation, and compilation of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) up to 2024, collaborating with relevant government agencies, and identifying outdated or redundant laws for repeal.