Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has pledged to reassess the legislation governing suicide attempts.
During a meeting with a delegation from the Asido Foundation, an NGO dedicated to advocating for mental health and promoting reforms to enhance awareness, reduce stigma, and empower individuals with mental health issues and their families, Fagbemi made this commitment.
Highlighting health as a key focus area for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the AGF emphasized the need for a second look at the law, particularly in cases where offenders are deemed to be in an unsound state of mind.
Fagbemi stated, “Offenders in such situations require compassion, treatment, and support to address this societal challenge. However, it is essential to note that our actions may not be binding on individual states. Therefore, I intend to raise this matter with the Body of Attorneys General.”
He also assured to discuss matters related to the Mental Health Act with his counterparts in the Federal Ministry of Health.
Earlier in the discussions, Dr. Jibril Abdulmalik, the founder of Asido, sought the AGF’s assistance in revisiting the laws pertaining to the sentencing of individuals who attempt suicide and in enforcing the Mental Health Act enacted by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2023.
Abdulmalik referenced medical findings indicating that globally, 80-90% of those attempting suicide had a history of mental illness, particularly depression.
According to Abdulmalik, “Feelings of despair can drive these individuals to the brink where they believe death is their only escape. In such scenarios, what they truly require is support and medical intervention, not punishment and confinement. We acknowledge the substantial workload on our judicial officers and aim to prevent unnecessary burdening of the system with cases better suited for medical care.”