The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has pledged to review the law that criminalizes suicide attempts in Nigeria.
He made this commitment during a meeting with a delegation from the Asido Foundation, an NGO focused on mental health advocacy and reforms.
The Special Adviser to the President on Communications and Publicity, Office of the AGF, Kamarudeen Ogundele, announced this in a statement eleased on Sunday in Abuja.
Fagbemi emphasized that health is a key priority area for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He acknowledged the need to reconsider the law, particularly in cases where offenders are determined to be mentally unstable.
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According to him, offenders in such situations require compassion, treatment, and support to address societal challenges associated with mental health issues.
However, he noted that any revisions made at the federal level would not automatically apply to states, indicating his intention to engage with the Body of Attorneys General regarding this matter.
Additionally, Fagbemi committed to discussing matters related to the Mental Health Act with his counterparts in the Federal Ministry of Health.
Dr. Jibril Abdulmalik, the founder of Asido, raised concerns about the law’s impact on individuals attempting suicide and urged Fagbemi to address this issue.
Abdulmalik highlighted that globally, a significant majority of individuals attempting suicide have underlying mental health conditions, particularly depression.
He emphasized the importance of providing help and treatment rather than punishment and incarceration to individuals in distress.
Abdulmalik also expressed concerns about the burden placed on judicial officers handling cases that are more appropriately addressed within the healthcare system.
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