A prominent lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba, has highlighted the pressing tasks that await the new Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

In a statement, Agbakoba emphasized the need for criminal justice reform, specifically addressing the overlapping responsibilities of the country’s law enforcement agencies, such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Crimes Commission (ICPC).

Despite these challenges, Agbakoba expressed confidence in Fagbemi’s capabilities and described him as a highly esteemed colleague.

On Monday, President Bola Tinubu swore in Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, along with other ministers.

However, in a social media post on Monday, Agbakoba outlined several key reform areas, including the need to restructure the EFCC and limit its role to investigation, while establishing a new National Prosecution Agency.

Agbakoba also stressed the importance of decentralizing the police force at the local, state, and federal levels, accompanied by a comprehensive review of the country’s outdated laws.

He stated, “There are pressing tasks to be carried out urgently by the new Attorney General of the Federation. Major reforms of the criminal justice system, with particular reference to the overlapping work of law enforcement agencies such as EFCC and ICPC, are urgently needed. Furthermore, the EFCC should be unbundled and solely focused on investigation, while a new National Prosecution Agency should be established.”

Agbakoba added, “Another crucial reform would be the complete decentralization of the Police Force, with a major revamp of our outdated laws. We can take inspiration from Rwanda, which modified 1000 laws. Lastly, the Attorney General must address the issue of Speed of Justice. It is disheartening that it takes over 15 years to conclude cases from the High Court to the Supreme Court.”

Agbakoba also called for the elimination of unnecessary centralization in Nigeria’s superior courts. He suggested constitutional amendments to establish a system of Federal and State Courts, each with their respective jurisdictions. By doing so, Agbakoba believes that the Supreme Court can focus on policy matters, relieving the burden on the overloaded court system.

Agbakoba concluded by expressing his unwavering confidence in Lateef Fagbemi’s ability to address these tasks effectively, highlighting his exceptional legal expertise and commitment to the justice system.