Senate Moves to Strengthen Anti-Terror Laws and Reform Legal Profession Amidst Public Debate

Senate Moves to Strengthen Anti-Terror Laws and Reform Legal Profession Amidst Public Debate

The Senate convened a pivotal public hearing this Thursday to deliberate on two significant legislative proposals aimed at enhancing national security and overhauling the legal profession.

 The joint hearing, conducted by the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters; National Security and Intelligence; and Interior, focused on the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Legal Practitioners Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2025. In his opening address, Senator Adegbomire Adeniyi Ayodele, SAN, Chairman of the Committee, emphasized the legislature's commitment to inclusivity, stating that public hearings ensure stakeholders are carried along in the process of enacting people-oriented laws.

A central and contentious proposal under review seeks to designate kidnapping and hostage-taking as acts of terrorism, prescribing a mandatory death penalty for such offences without an option of fine. Sponsored by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele Michael, the bill argues that Nigeria's devastating attacks on civilians, schools, and places of worship necessitate this severe measure to underscore the government's duty to protect lives and preserve internal security. However, this provision faced immediate scrutiny from key legal authorities.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, cautioned that classifying kidnapping as terrorism to impose the death penalty is against international best practices. He advocated instead for life imprisonment upon conviction, noting that many state governors have been reluctant to sign death warrants in practice. This position was supported by a representative of the Nigerian Bar Association, Keh Inde, who argued that a blanket capital punishment for kidnapping negates constitutionally compliant sentencing guidelines.

The second bill, also sponsored by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, proposes a comprehensive reform of the legal profession by repealing the existing Legal Practitioners Act. Its major objectives include restructuring the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, criminalising unauthorised legal practice, reforming the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and empowering the Body of Benchers as the apex regulatory institution.

 On this matter, there was broader consensus, with the Attorney General, the Nigerian Bar Association, and the Body of Benchers expressing support for the need to regulate the profession in line with modern realities, though the Nigerian Law Society requested its inclusion in the Body of Benchers.

Declaring the hearing open, the President of the Senate, represented by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno representiNigerno North district, described both bills as timely measures meant to enhance good governance. 

Concluding the session, Committee Chairman Adegbomire assured that all views expressed by stakeholders would be incorporated into the committee's report for consideration by the full Senate, marking a critical step in the legislative process for these far-reaching proposals.