House Adopts Law Reform Commission Amendment Report

In a move to improve the judicial system of Lagos State, the State House of Assembly, on Thursday adopted the Law Reform Commission (Amendment).

The eight paragraph amendments were necessary in order to remove certain provisions and phrases that may be clothed in ambiguity and also make the Lagos State Law Reform Commission Law 2007 more specific, exact, efficient and effective.

The House committed this Law to the Committee on Judiciary on Wednesday, 28 December after which a stakeholder’s forum was held.

The Chairman of the Committee, Honourable Sannai Agunbiade read the report on the floor and some of the following were recommended:

A Chairman who is a legal practitioner of not less than 10 years experience who, in the opinion of the governor is suitable for appointment for, “the proposed draft legislation to eliminate all anomalies and repeal obsolete, spent and unnecessary enactments and provisions, including external consultant where necessary to assist the Commission” and that the Secretary shall keep proper accounts in respect of each year from 1st January to 31st December and shall cause the account to be audited by an auditor appointed from the list of auditors provided by the Auditor-General of the state.

The years of experience of the Chairman was formerly 15 years, but was amended on the floor of the House to 10 years.

All other recommendations by the committee were also adopted as amended.

Similarly, the House has set up a three–man Committee to examine activities of Okada riders following the motion raised by Honourable Razaq Balogun under matters of urgent importance on the arrest of okada riders by the State Taskforce.

The committee, which comprises Honourable Sanai Agunbiade, Honourable Bisi Yusuf and Honourable Segun Olulade, has two weeks to report back.