By EBERE AGOZIE

The Committee for the Review, Update and Consolidation of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria has reviewed 737 laws.

Mr Olowale Fapondumda SAN, the Chairman of the committee, made this known at the second retreat of the committee in Abuja.

He also said the committee was currently working on 697 laws while 40 others were still pending.

Fapohunda, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti, said the retreat was organised to afford the 46-menber committee to review, update and consolidate all the outdated laws in the country.

?We have 14 working groups and we are here to discuss the challenges that we faced and proffer solutions.

?We also plan to work diligently to ensure that we submit the draft to the Attorney General by September 2025??.

The learned silk said that the recognition of the importance of the assignment spurred members to be on the same page.

?Our approach has been inclusive and consultative with the intention to engage the Nigeria Bar Association and other stakeholders.

?We are open and available for engagement, and we are on course to deliver timely and meet the expectations of Nigerians,? he said.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in his remarks expressed gratitude to the committee for their selfless service and sacrifice.

Fagbemi said that the second retreat was a strategic consolidation of the nation?s law reform efforts.

?The call to be part of this assignment will inevitably and positively affect the lives of individuals, government, businesses as well as citizens of this nation.

?This committee?s works is our collective efforts to modernise, consolidate, and harmonise Nigeria?s body of federal statutes??.

Earlier in a goodwill message, the representative of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), Mr Toyin Badejogbon called for support for the review process, saying legislative development updates will enhance access to law.

?Our courts, research institutes, law reforms commission, citizens all need the law to engage meaningfully,?

?RoLAC is working to strengthen the application of law and curb corruption and we work at the federal level and with some states.

?It is reforming the criminal justice system ensuring women, children and people with disabilities have access to justice.

?It also works at improving the performance of anti-corruption agencies and how they work together enhancing the voice of Nigerians in curbing corruption,? he said.

NAN reports that the committee was inaugurated in October 2024 to review, update and consolidate all the outdated laws in the country.

NAN reports that the terms of reference of the committee include to coordinate the collection, collation and compilation of LFN up to 2024 and work with relevant Government Agencies in harmonizing the LFN up to 2024.

Others are to cross check, edit and proof-read all the legislations to be collected and to identify all Legislations not included in the 2004 edition of the LFN and update same.

The committee is also expected to identify outdated or redundant laws in the current LFN that need repeal and merge laws addressing related matters to eliminate redundancy. (NAN)

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