NLRC moves to unify criminal, penal codes

The Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC) has taken another step towards unifying the Criminal and the Penal Codes.

The Criminal Code, which leans towards the English Criminal Law, is currently applicable in the southern part of Nigeria, while the Penal Code with its leaning on the Penal Codes of Islamic countries of Sudan, Pakistan and India, is currently applicable in the Northern part of Nigeria.

Addressing participants at a National Stakeholders Summit for validation of the reports on the unification exercise, the acting chairperson of NLRC, Prof. Jummai A.M. Audi, stressed the exigency of the exercise, saying that the current legislations “are long overdue as some of the provisions are obsolete, spent and unnecessary while others are no longer adequate in view of the changing circumstances of life and technological advancement”.

She added that although the commission “considers the exercise as capable of fostering national unity, it recognises the need to maintain the diversities therein and warn ourselves of the need for strict adherence to the principles of federalism.”

Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Justice and Legal Matters, Ugonna Ozurigbo, said the National Assembly would give the exercise its full support when it becomes a bill, adding that the unification of the codes would further strengthen the unity of the country.

While declaring the summit open, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said the harmonisation exercise must take due note of the provisions of several other laws, which he said created criminal liability at state levels.