The Senate on Thursday passed two key judiciary-related bills, including landmark legislation establishing an independent agency to recover, manage, and dispose of assets linked to unlawful activities.
The upper chamber approved the Legal Practitioners Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026 (SB. 965) and the Proceeds of Crime Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (SB. 343), following consideration of the report by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), presented the reports during plenary and recommended the passage of both bills.
On the Legal Practitioners Bill, Adegbonmire explained that the proposed law seeks to repeal the existing Legal Practitioners Act, Cap. L11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and replace it with a modern framework for regulating the legal profession.
“The committee recommends that the Senate consider and pass the bill to repeal the Legal Practitioners Act Cap. L11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and enact a new Legal Practitioners Act to provide a contemporary regulatory framework for the legal profession in Nigeria,” he said.
He noted that the committee subjected the bill to rigorous scrutiny due to its importance to the country’s justice system.
“The legal profession is the guardian of the rule of law and the primary channel through which citizens access justice. The framework governing it must be constitutionally sound, balanced, and worthy of public confidence,” he added.
Presenting the report on the Proceeds of Crime Act (Amendment) Bill, Adegbonmire said the legislation seeks to establish a dedicated Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Agency responsible for recovering, preserving, managing, and disposing of assets reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
According to him, the proposed agency will address longstanding challenges in the management of recovered assets and strengthen Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture.
“The bill addresses a critical gap in Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework. Its objectives are commendable, its urgency is clear, and the committee is satisfied that, with the recommended amendments, it will serve the public interest effectively,” he said.
Following the presentation, the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole, considered the clauses of both bills, adopted the committee’s recommendations, and passed the legislation for third reading via voice vote.
Commending lawmakers after the passage, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the new agency would ensure that recovered assets are managed transparently and in the best interest of Nigerians.
“We now have a framework that will ensure recovered assets are properly managed for the benefit of the Nigerian people. I commend my colleagues for their commitment in bringing this to fruition,” Akpabio said.
The bills will now be transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence before being forwarded to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.