The Yobe state government has reached an agreement with the National Institute of Advance and Legal Studies (NIALS) for the review of its existing laws and this will cost the state, the sum of N65million.
Speaking at the signing of the agreement on Thursday, in Damaturu, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Ahmed Goneri said the need for the review of the laws became necessary considering the fact that the laws currently in use in the state were the ones inherited from the old Borno state.
Yobe state was carved out of old Borno state in 1991.
“Some of the laws were enacted in the 60’s and 70’s and have become obsolete, spent, recondite and are not addressing the present days realities, constitutional developments and general present day challenges” stated the Attorney-General.
While recalling the dynamism of laws the Commissioner for Justice noted that the state has resolved to review its laws to meet with the changing realities pointing out that it will cost government the sum of N65million.
The review exercise he explained will involve amendments, repeals, deletions, and the updating of the laws to bring them in tandem to the constitutional developments, case law development and development in sharia legal system
He also stated that laws are usually reviewed every decade, therefore the review of Yobe state was not just appropriate but long overdue hence the need to engage the services of the institute.
The secretary of NIALS, Barrister James Bathana thanked the Yobe state government for the confidence reposed in the institute and promised that the job will be “expeditiously, judiciously and professionally done.”
He said the institute will complete the exercise within nine months as stipulated in the agreement.
Barrister Bathana also claimed that most laws in Nigeria are “Product of colonialists” and he enjoined other states of the federation to emulate Yobe in the quest for updating the laws with the changing realities.