Senate passes Legal Practitioners, Proceeds of Crime Recovery amendment bills

The Nigerian Senate has passed two significant bills: the Legal Practitioners Act Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2026 and the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Amendment Bill 2026. The passage followed the presentation and consideration of reports by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, chaired by Adeniyi Adegbonmire.

Senator Adegbonmire, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), explained that the Legal Practitioners Bill will repeal the current act and introduce a modern regulatory framework for the legal profession. He emphasized that the committee's thorough scrutiny and recommended amendments aim to enhance the regulation of legal practice and improve access to justice. Adegbonmire described the legal profession as fundamental to the rule of law, stressing the need for a constitutional, transparent, and credible regulatory system in Nigeria.

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The committee is satisfied with the recommended amendments. The bill will provide the framework required for effective regulation of the legal profession.

Regarding the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Amendment Bill, the committee also recommended its passage after detailed legislative review. This bill aims to establish a Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Agency with full legal authority to manage recovered assets. The proposed agency will be responsible for the recovery, preservation, management, and disposal of properties suspected to be derived from unlawful activities across Nigeria.

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The bill addresses a genuine gap in Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture. Its objectives are legitimate, its necessity is urgent, and its provisions serve the public interest.

Senator Adegbonmire highlighted that the bill addresses a critical gap in Nigeria's anti-corruption framework, stating its objectives are legitimate, its necessity urgent, and its provisions serve the public interest. Following the committee's reports, the Senate moved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the bills clause-by-clause before approving them and reading them for the third time.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the Judiciary Committee members for their diligence and applauded the senators for supporting the measures. He expressed hope that those implementing the new laws would do so with probity, accountability, and integrity for the benefit of Nigeria. The passage of these bills is expected to strengthen the country's legal and institutional frameworks.

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I pray that those implementing these laws will act with probity, accountability, and integrity in the best interest of Nigeria.