FG Set to Review Law Cr!minalizing Su!cide Attempts

Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has committed to reviewing the legislation that makes suicide attempts illegal in the nation.

He made the pledge in response to a delegation from the Asido Foundation, a non-governmental organization that supports reforms and advocacy for mental health.

This was revealed in a statement that Special Adviser to the President on Communications and Publicity, Office of the AGF, Kamarudeen Ogundele, made accessible to reporters in Abuja on Sunday.

The AGF claims that President Bola Tinubu’s government placed a high focus on health.

He said, “The law is something we have to take a second look at, especially where it is established that the offenders are not in the right state of mind. What the offenders need is pity, treatment and love, to rid society of this kind of situation.

“But whatever we do is not binding on the states. So, I will take the case to the Body of Attorneys General,” Fagbemi said

He committed to discussing the Mental Health Act’s concerns with his colleagues at the Federal Ministry of Health.

Prior to this, Dr. Jibril Abdulmalik, the creator of Asido, asked the AGF for assistance in examining the legislation pertaining to the punishment of those who have tried suicide as well as the execution of the Mental Health Act, which former President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law in January 2023.

According to medical data, 80–90% of those who attempt suicide globally have a history of mental illness, particularly depression, according to Abdulmalik.

“It is because of a sense of hopelessness that makes them get to the edge where they think they are better off dying.

“In that situation what they need is help and treatment, not punishment and incarceration. We know the workload is heavy for our judicial officers…We don’t want them overburdened with cases that should ordinarily go to the hospitals,” he added. [CONTINUE READING HERE]